Sexual dysfunction and sexual health concerns in women with diabetes

Authors: Meeking D.R.^{1, *}; Fosbury J.A.¹; Cummings M.H.²; Alexander W.D.³; Shaw K.M.²; Russell-Jones D.L.¹

Source: Sexual Dysfunction, Volume 1, Number 2, July 1999 , pp. 83-87(5)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

To investigate the prevalence of sexual health problems in women with diabetes in comparison with a non-diabetic control population.

Questionnaires were randomly distributed to 270 diabetic patients and 104 non-diabetic controls from three hospital centres. Responses to questions concerning sexual function, general health, contraception, pregnancy and psychological issues were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Sexual dysfunction was more prevalent in diabetic women than those in the control group. The major sexual problem identified was vaginal lubrication [70% (72/103) vs. 40% (28/70); ² = 15.3, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001]. Inability to achieve orgasm, dyspareunia and reduction in libido were also reported more commonly by women with diabetes than by women in the control group [50% (52/103) vs. 29% (20/70); ² = 9.4, d.f. = 1, P < 0.01, 43% (44/103) vs. 23% (16/103); ² = 7.3, d.f. = 1, P < 0.01, 64% (66/103) vs. 47% (33/70), ² = 4.5, d.f. = 1, P < 0.05, respectively]. Other sexual health concerns highlighted in diabetic respondents were genito-urinary infection [23% (37/161)], problems of self-image attributed to diabetes [34–40% (55–64/161)] and a range of reproductive and contraceptive worries.

Sexual health problems are common in women with diabetes. Women should be encouraged to talk about sexual health issues and specialist advice should be made available to those who need it.

Keywords: arousal; contraception; diabetic women; orgasm; sexual dysfunction

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK 2: Department of Diabetes, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK 3: Department of Diabetes, Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, UK *

Publication date: 1999-07-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Neurology & Psychiatry ,  Families & Communities
• By this author: Meeking D.R. ;  Fosbury J.A. ;  Cummings M.H. ;  Alexander W.D. ;  Shaw K.M. ;  Russell-Jones D.L.

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