Female Sexual Dysfunction in Asian Women with Diabetes

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing globally, especially in Asia. Prevalence of diabetes in Asia is increasing at a higher rate in comparison to Western countries with an increasing trend reported in the younger generation (20-39 years old). This trend has similarly been reported in our Malaysian diabetic population, of which the general prevalence is 17.5%. This population experiences longer disease duration and are at greater risk of developing complications of diabetes at an earlier stage in life. Sexual dysfunction has been established as a common long-term complication of diabetes, affecting both men and women. Evidence shows that some Asian countries experience greater rates of female sexual dysfunction compared to their Western counterparts and this is likely attributed to cultural differences and other socioeconomic factors. However, these studies are very limited and need to be investigated at a greater scale. The aim of this report is to identify gaps in the literature regarding female sexual dysfunction among Asian women with diabetes. Local cultural and religious values maintain that sexual issues should not be discussed openly, even in a clinical setting. This paper may pave the way for future studies to be carried out, as addressing sexual dysfunction is a vital part of diabetes care. In addition, various studies have identified depression as a conclusive predictor of female sexual dysfunction in diabetic women. There is a possibility of a link between diabetes distress and female sexual dysfunction, which requires further investigation.