Valadares ALR, Pinto-Neto AM, Osis MJ, Sousa MH, Costa-Paiva L, Conde DM. Prevalence of sexual dysfunction and its associated factors in women aged 40-65 years with 11 years or more of formal education: a population-based household survey. Clinics. 2008;63:775-82. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and its associated factors in middle-aged women with 11 years or more of formal education. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based study was carried out using an anonymous, self-response questionnaire. A total of 315 Brazilian-born women, 40-65 years of age with 11 years or more of schooling, participated in the study. The instrument used in the evaluation was based on the Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire. Sexual dysfunction was calculated from the mean score of sexual responsiveness (pleasure in sexual activities, excitation and orgasm), frequency of sexual activities and libido. Sociodemographic and clinical factors were evaluated. Poisson multiple regression analysis was carried out and the prevalence ratios with respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 35.9% among our study population. Multiple regression analysis showed that sexual dysfunction was positively associated with older age (prevalence ratios=1.04; 95%CI:1.01-1.07) and with the presence of hot flashes (prevalence ratios=1.37; 95%CI:1.04-1.80). Having a sexual partner (PR=0.47; 95%CI:0.34-0.65) and feeling well or excellent (prevalence ratios= 0.68; 95%CI: 0.52-0.88) were factors associated with lower sexual dysfunction scores. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dysfunction was present in more than one-third of women that were 40-65 years of age with 11 years or more of formal education. Within that age group, older age and hot flashes were associated with higher sexual dysfunction scores, whereas feeling well and having a sexual partner were associated with better sexuality.

Objectives: To assess the effects of vaginal erbium laser treatment on the vaginal health and sexual function of postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer. Methods: An open, prospective, therapeutic intervention study was conducted with 24 postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer and vaginal dryness, and/or dyspareunia, who had not used vaginal hormone therapy for at least 6 months. The women were treated using a 2,940-nm Erbium: YAG laser (Etherea-MX, Athena, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil), with 90o and 360o scanning scopes, between August, 2017 and October, 2017 in a private clinic in a city of southeastern Brazil. Vaginal erbium laser treatment was performed at three sessions with a 30-day interval between each session. Sexual function was assessed before and 1 month after treatment using the Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire. Questions related to genitourinary symptoms were also applied. Vaginal health was assessed before each laser session using the Vaginal Health Index Score. Results: Mean age was 53.7 years. Vaginal health improved, as shown by an increased overall score (P < 0.001). The effect size was large between pretreatment and post-treatment scores for vaginal elasticity, fluid volume, epithelial integrity, and moisture. The effect size was also significant for the overall sexual function score and for the score in the dyspareunia domain between pretreatment and 1 month after the final treatment session. Conclusion: Vaginal erbium laser may represent a novel therapeutic option for improving vaginal health and sexual function in postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer.

Analysis of the associated factors classified in order of importance and analysis of the characteristics of the sexual relationships provide additional information to currently available data on the traditional concepts of HSDD.

Older women and those with insomnia were more likely to have a low sexuality score, whereas those with a sexual partner and who felt well were less likely to have a low sexuality score.

Multimorbidity is principally associated with aging and obesity.

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Introduction Female sexual function depends on biological, psychological, and sociocultural contexts. Aim The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of low levels of functioning in each of the sexual function domains (desire, arousal, and orgasm) and the factors associated with these phenomena, as well as to assess the frequency of sexual activity in this same sample population. Methods A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted using an anonymous self-response questionnaire completed by 378 Brazilian-born women of 40–65 years of age with 11 years or more of formal education. The evaluation instrument was based on the Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire. Results The prevalence of low sexual desire was 60.6%; low arousal, 37%; and low orgasmic function, 31.1%. Multiple regression analysis showed that having a sexual partner (prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.69, confidence interval [CI] = 0.53–0.90) and nervousness (PR = 1.33, CI = 1.01–1.75) were factors associated with low sexual desire. Aging (PR = 1.04, CI = 1.02–1.06), having a sexual partner (PR = 0.57, CI = 0.41–0.81), feeling well/excellent (PR = 0.59, CI = 0.41–0.85), and having hot flashes (PR = 1.47, CI = 1.01 = 2.15) were factors found to be associated with low sexual arousal. Having a sexual partner (PR = 0.55, CI = 0.42–0.71), feeling well/excellent (PR = 0.68, CI = 0.49–0.94), and having hot flashes (PR = 2.08, CI = 1.43 = 3.04) were factors found to be associated with low sexual orgasmic function. Having a sexual partner (PR = 0.47, CI = 0.38–0.58), feeling well/excellent (PR = 0.78, CI = 0.69–0.89), and having hot flashes (PR = 1.15, CI = 1.05–1.26) were factors found to be associated with a frequency of sexual activity of once a week or less. Conclusions In this sample of middle-aged women, low sexual desire was the most prevalent sexual problem. These results highlight the importance of identifying and treating factors associated with each individual component of low female sexual function.