Assessment of female sexual function and the occurrence of its dysfunction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56102/afmo.2025.395Keywords:
Hormonal contraceptives, Physiological sexual dysfunctions, Gynecology, Women’s health, Sexual healthAbstract
Objective: To assess and identify female sexual dysfunction (SD) using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Family Health Unit of Olinda, Pernambuco, from August 2023 to January 2024. A random sample of women aged ≥ 18 years and with active sexual life was included. SD was defined by a total FSFI score (sum of the scores of each domain) lower than 26. The phases of sexual intercourse were assessed using six domains and their possible types of dysfunction: disorders of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction with sexual life, and pain. Measures of central tendency, dispersion, and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for the occurrence of SD. Data were analyzed using the Microsoft Excel and Stata software, version 15. Results: Among the 105 women interviewed, 22 (20.9%; 95% CI: 14.1% to 29.9%) experienced SD. This condition was more prevalent among women aged > 35 years and those who were overweight or obese. The use of hormonal contraceptives was significantly associated with SD (p < 0.001). Conclusion: SD in women aged > 35 years and overweight or obese should be considered. The results highlight the need for an individualized assessment of female sexual health, particularly among users of hormonal contraceptives.
References
Iamundo LF, Nava GT de A, Rocha Júnior PR, Prudencio CB, Barbosa AMP. Prevalenceand factors associated with pelvic floor dysfunction in university women: a cross-sectionalstudy. Fisioterapia em Movimento [Internet]. 2022 Sep 23;35. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/fm.2022.35133
World Health Organization (WHO). Sexual health, human rights and the law. Geneva: WHO, 2020.
Wettergren L. Sexual dysfunction among young adults in Sweden—a population-based observational study. Sex Med. 2020 Dec;8(4):631-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.08.010.
Carrilho Paulo José Faria, Vivacqua Carla Almeida, Godoy Eudes Paiva de, Bruno Selma Sousa, Brígido Alexandra Régia Dantas, Barros Felipe Chaves Duarte et al . Sexual dysfunction in obese women is more affected by psychological domains than that of non-obese. Rev. Bras. Ginecol. Obstet. [Internet]. 2015 Dec [cited 2021 Mar 19] ; 37( 12 ): 552-558. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/SO100-720320155443
Ferreira ALCG, Souza AI de, Amorim MMR de. Prevalência das disfunções sexuais femininas em clínica de planejamento familiar de um hospital escola no Recife, Pernambuco. Rev Bras Saude Mater Infant [Internet]. 2007Apr;7(2):143–50. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-38292007000200004
Alves C, Costa AC, Lírio JF, José Eleutério Junior, Vieira-Baptista P, Ana Cristina Gonçalves. Efficacy of Hormonal and Nonhormonal Approaches to Vaginal Atrophy andSexual Dysfunctions in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review. 2022 Oct1;44(10):986–94. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1756148
American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5® [Internet]. 2014. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.
Resolução nº 466/12. Conselho Nacional de Saúde. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/conselhonacional-de-saude/pt-br/atos-normativos/resolucoes/2012/resolucao-no-466.pdf/view
Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S, Meston C, Shabsigh R, Ferguson D, D’Agostino R Jr. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther. 2000 Apr-Jun;26(2):191-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/009262300278597
Pacagnella R de C, Vieira EM, Rodrigues Jr. OM, Souza C de. Adaptação transcultural do Female Sexual Function Index. Cad Saúde Pública [Internet]. 2008Feb;24(2):416–26. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2008000200021
Fonseca GM da S, Lima JCRC de, Silva KM da, Barbosa SSA, Oliveira BDR de. Prevalência das disfunções sexuais no período do climatério em uma clínica especializada na saúde da mulher em Caruaru/PE. Fisioterapia Brasil. 2021 Mar 19;22(1):72–85. https://doi.org/10.33233/fb.v22i1.4346
Portela Da Mota C, De Melo M J, Da Silva J L, Messias C, De Oliveira Mouta R J. Disfunção sexual em mulheres adultas atendidas no serviço de ginecologia do Hospital Universitário [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 May 5]. https://doi.org/10.9789/2175-5361.rpcfo.v13.8817
Hoz FJEDL. Incidencia a un año de deseo sexual hipoactivo en mujeres que planificancon implante subdérmico de levonorgestrel. Estudio de cohorte. Armenia, Colombia, 2014-2019. Revista Colombiana de Obstetricia y Ginecología [Internet]. 2021 Mar 30 [cited 2021 Dec 13];72(1):33–42. https://doi.org/10.18597/rcog.3520
Casado-Espada NM, de Alarcón R, de la Iglesia-Larrad JI, Bote-Bonaechea B, MontejoÁL. Hormonal Contraceptives, Female Sexual Dysfunction, and Managing Strategies: A Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine [Internet]. 2019 Jun 1;8(6):908. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8060908
Huang M, Li G, Liu J, Li Y, Du P. Is There an Association Between Contraception and Sexual Dysfunction in Women? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Based on FemaleSexual Function Index. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2020 Oct;17(10):1942–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.06.008
Ferrández Infante A, Novella Arribas B, Khan KS, Zamora J, Jurado López AR, Fragoso Pasero M, et al. Obesity and female sexual dysfunctions: A systematic review of prevalence with meta-analysis. Semergen [Internet]. 2023 Oct 1 [cited 2024 Mar 20];49(7):102022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semerg.2023.102022
Saadedine M, Faubion SS, Grach SL, Nordhues HC, Kapoor E. Association between obesity and female sexual dysfunction: a review. Sexual Medicine Reviews. 2023 Dec 18. https://doi.org/10.1093/sxmrev/qead047
Dantas JH, Dantas TH de M, Pereira ARR, Correia GN, Castaneda L, Dantas D de S. Função e funcionamento sexual da mulher em idade reprodutiva. Fisioter mov [Internet]. 2020;33:e003307. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5918.33.AO07
Faubion SS, Rullo JE. Sexual Dysfunction in Women: A Practical Approach. American Family Physician [Internet]. 2015 Aug 15;92(4):281–8. Available from: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/0815/p281.html
Garcia BM, Coutinho CHD, Tolentino CC, Coelho DS, Leite F de AD, Coelho FS, et al. Abordagem Médica na Disfunção Sexual Feminina. Revista Eletrônica Acervo Médico [Internet]. 2022 Jan 8;2:e8840–0. https://doi.org/10.25248/REAMed.e8840.2022
(Silva NT da, Damasceno S de O. AVALIAÇÃO DA SATISFAÇÃO SEXUAL EM UNIVERSITÁRIAS. Colloquium Vitae ISSN: 1984-6436 [Internet]. 2019 Apr 17 [cited 2024 Jun 20];11(1):1–6. https://doi.org/10.5747/cv.2019.v11.n1.v246
Hill DA, Taylor CA. Dyspareunia in Women. American Family Physician [Internet]. 2021 May 15;103(10):597–604. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0515/p597.html
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ana Beatriz de Melo Calado, Assíria de Holanda Gama, Yasmin Fausto de Oliveira, Maria Eduarda Dantas Medeiros, Petrus Augusto Dornelas Câmara , Érika Thienne Lopes da Silva, Carolline Araujo Mariz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Esta licença permite que outros distribuam, remixem, adaptem e desenvolvam seu trabalho, mesmo comercialmente, desde que creditem a revista pela criação original.
