[Prevalence of sexual dysfunction among climacteric women]. / Prevalencia de disfunción sexual en mujeres climatéricas.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Female Sexual Function index (FSFI), is a scale designed to evaluate sexuality and diagnose the presence of sexual dysfunction in women. AIM: To apply the FSFI to climacteric women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The FSFI was applied to 370 healthy women aged between 40 and 59years old (49 +/- 6years) that accompanied patients to public health services in Santiago. RESULTS: Fifty six percent of women were married, 44% were postmenopausal, 6% used hormone replacement therapy, 67% were sexually active, and sexual dysfunction was present in 57% of them. Thirty two percent of women aged between 40 and 44 years and 65% of women aged between 55 and 59 years, had sexual dysfunction (p <0.01). In a logistic regression model, the risk of sexual dysfunction increased among women that perceive having health problems (Odds ratio (OR) 3-9; 95%o confidence intervals (95% CI) 1.1-13-8), women older than 48 years (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3-4) and women that gave birth to two or more children (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.0-3-1). CONCLUSIONS: Climateric women have high prevalence of sexual dysfunction. Age is its main risk factor.