Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Prevalence and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction among Egyptian women

  • General Gynecology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess sexual function among married women and determine associated risk factors for sexual dysfunction.

Participants and method

Cross-sectional hospital-based study involving 509 non-pregnant married females 20–59 years old who were enrolled into the study after approval of the ethics committee. The study population was recruited among women attending gynecology outpatient clinic or their relatives visiting inpatients of obstetrics and gynecology department at Suez Canal University Hospital. Female and male partner-related data were collected using an interview questionnaire. Sexual dysfunction was assessed using female sexual function index (FSFI).

Results

Mean female age was 39.5 years. About half of the participants were premenopausal (48.7 %). Most of the females were circumcised (71.7 %). Desire and Orgasm domains were the most affected with 52.8 % of the participants having sexual dysfunction. Total FSFI score of ≤26.55 was the cutoff value for diagnosis of FSD and female age, postmenopausal status, duration of marriage, circumcision, partner’s age, and the presence of male sexual dysfunction were found to be significant associated factors with FSD.

Conclusion

FSD is highly prevalent in Egypt and orgasm and desire scores were the most affected domains. Several personal (female age, postmenopausal status, duration of marriage and circumcision) and male partner (age, and the presence of sexual dysfunction) factors were significantly associated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Drench ME, Losee RH (1996) Sexuality and sexual capacities of elderly people. Rehabil Nurs 21(3):118–123

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Briana W, Trashawn T (2003) Female Sexual Dysfunction. Curr Womens Health Rep 3:319–326

    Google Scholar 

  3. Laumann EO, Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Paik A, Gingell C, Moreira E, Wang T (2005) Sexual problems among women and men aged 40–80 years: prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. Int J Impot Res 17(1):39–57

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Amidu N, Owiredu W, Woode E, Addai-Mensah O, Quaye L, Alhassan A, Tagoe EA (2010) Incidence of sexual dysfunction: a prospective survey in Ghanaian females. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 8:106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Spector IP, Carey MP (1990) Incidence and prevalence of the sexual dysfunctions: a critical review of the empirical literature. Arch Sex Behav 19(4):389–408

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Elnashar AM, El-Dien Ibrahim M, El-Desoky MM, Ali OM, El-Sayd Mohamed Hassan M (2007) Female sexual dysfunction in lower Egypt. BJOG 114:201–206

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. APA (2000) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. American Psychiatric Association (APA), 4th Edn. Washington, p 537

  8. Basson R, Berman J, Burnett A, Derogatis L, Ferguson D, Fourcroy J, Goldstein I, Graziottin A, Heiman J, Laan E, Leiblum S, Padma-Nathan H, Rosen R, Segraves K, Segraves RT, Shabsigh R, Sipski M, Wagner G (2000) Whipple B: report of the international consensus development conference on female sexual dysfunction: definitions and classifications. J Urol 163:888–893

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Salonia A, Munarriz R, Naspro R (2004) Women’s sexual dysfunction: a pathophysiological review. Br J Urol 93(8):1156–1164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lightner Derobah J (2002) Female sexual Dysfunction. Mayo Clin Proc 77(7):698–702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Butcher J (1999) ABC of sexual health: female sexual problems II: sexual pain and sexual fears. BMJ 318:110–112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nusbaum MR, Hamilton C, Lenahan P (2003) Chronic illness and sexual functioning. Am Fam Physician 67:347–354

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Abu Ali RM, Al Hajeri RM, Khader YS, Shegem NS, Ajlouni KM (2008) Sexual dysfunction in jordanian diabetic women. Diabetes Care 31:1580–1581

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. World Health Organization (2012) Chronic diseases. http://www.who.int/topics/chronic_diseases/en/

  15. Paludi MA, Barickman RB (1991) Academic and Workplace Sexual Harassment, pp 2–5. ISBN 0-7914-0829-9

  16. Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S et al (2000) The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther 26:191–208

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Anis TH, Gheit SA, Saied HS, Al kherbash SA (2011) Arabic translation of female sexual function index and validation in an Egyptian population. J Sex Med 8(12):3370–3378

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wiegel M, Meston C, Rosen R (2005) The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): cross-validation and development of clinical cutoff scores. J Sex Marital Ther 31:1–20

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Penteado SR, Fonseca AM, Bagnoli VR, Assis JS, Pinotti JA (2003) Sexuality in healthy postmenopausal women. Climacteric 6:321–329

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. NIH Consensus Conference Impotence (1993) NIH consensus development panel on impotence. JAMA 270:83–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Dennerstein L, Dudley EC, Hopper JL, Burger H (1997) Sexuality, hormones and the menopausal transition. Maturitas 26:83–93

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Avis NC, Stellato R, Crawford S, Johannes C (2000) Is there an association between menopause status and sexual functioning? Menopause 7:297–309

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC (1999) Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 281(6):537–544

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Castelo-Branco C, Cancelo MJ, Chedraui P (2007) Female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Expert Opin Ther Pat 17:639–647

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Thiel R, Thiel M, Dambros M et al (2006) Assessment of female sexual function before and after a procedure for correcting stress urinary incontinence. Actas Urol Esp 30:315–320

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ter Kuile MM, Brauer M, Laan E (2006) The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS): psychometric properties within a Dutch population. J Sex Marital Ther 32:289–304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Nappi RE, Albani F, Vaccaro P et al (2008) Use of the Italian translation of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in routine gynecological practice. Gynecol Endocrinol 24:214–219

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Berman L, Berman J, Felder S (2003) Seeking help for sexual function complaints: what gynecologists need to know about the female patient’s experience? Fertil Steril 79:572–576

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Chedraui P, Perez-Lopez FR, San Miguel G, Avila C (2009) Assessment of sexuality among middle-aged women using the Female Sexual Function Index. Climacteric 12:213–221

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ojomu F, Thacher T, Obadofin M (2007) Sexual problems among married Nigerian women. Int J Impot Res 19:310–316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Blumel JE, Bravo F, Recavarren M, Sarra S (2003) Sexual function in postmenopausal women using hormone replacement therapy. Rev Med Chil 131:1251–1255

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lewis RW, Fugl-Meyer KS, Bosch R et al (2004) Epidemiology/risk factors of sexual dysfunction. J Sex Med 1:35–39

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Hayes RD, Dennerstein L, Bennett CM, Fairley CK (2008) What is the ‘true’ prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions and does the way we assess these conditions have an impact? J Sex Med 5:777–787

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Levine KB, Williams RE, Hartmann KE (2008) Vulvovaginal atrophy is strongly associated with female sexual dysfunction among sexually active postmenopausal women. Menopause 15:661–666

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. WHO (2010) Eliminating female genital mutilation—an inter-agency statement (OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WHO), page 5. http://www.prb.org/pdf10/fgm-wallchart2010.pdf

  36. UNICEF (2005) Female Genital Mutilation/female genital cutting a statistical report. UNICEF, New York

    Google Scholar 

  37. Ibrahim ZM, Ahmed MR, Mostafa MR (2012) Psychosexual impact of female genital mutilation/cutting among Egyptian women. Human Andrology 2(2):36–41. doi:10.1097/01.XHA.0000415087.33452.0a

  38. El-Defrawi MH, Lotfy G, Dandash KF et al (2001) Female genital mutilation and its psychosexual impact. J Sex Martial Ther 27:465–473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Elnashar A, Abdelhady R (2007) The impact of female genital cutting on health of newly married women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 97:238–244

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Hassanin IM, Helmy YA, Fathalla MM, Shahin AY (2010) Prevalence and characteristics of female sexual dysfunction in a sample of women from upper Egypt. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 108:219–223

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Thabet SMA (2003) Defective sexuality and female circumcision: the cause and the possible management. J Obstet Gynecol Res 29:12–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. El-Naser TA, Farouk A, El-Nashar AER, Mostafa T (2010) Sexual side effects of female genital mutilation/cutting may be type dependent: a hospital-based study KAJOG Kasr Al-Aini. J Obstet Gynecol 1(2):65–74

    Google Scholar 

  43. Van Gleen JM, Van De Weijer PH, Arnolds HT (1996) Urogenital symptoms and their resulting discomfort in non-institutionalized 50–75 years-old Dutch women. Ned Tijschr Geneeskd 140:713–716

    Google Scholar 

  44. Yanez D, Castelo-Branco C, Hidalgo LA, Chedraui PA (2006) Sexual dysfunction and related risk factors in a cohort of middle-aged Ecuadorian women. J Obstet Gynaecol 26:682–686

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Rosen RC, Althof S (2008) Impact of premature ejaculation: the psychological, quality of life, and sexual relationship consequences. J Sex Med 5:1296–1307

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Nelson CJ (2006) The impact of male sexual dysfunction on the female partner. Curr Sex Health Rep 3:37–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Barnabei VM, Cochrane BB, Aragaki AK et al (2005) Women’s health initiative investigators menopausal symptoms and treatment-related effects of estrogen and progestin in the women’s health initiative. Obstet Gynecol 105:1063–1073

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Welton AJ, Vickers MR, Kim J, WISDOM team et al (2008) Health related quality of life after combined hormone replacement therapy: randomized controlled trial. BMJ 337:a1190

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors report no declaration of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Waleed Ali Sayed Ahmed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ibrahim, Z.M., Ahmed, M.R. & Ahmed, W.A.S. Prevalence and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction among Egyptian women. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 1173–1180 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2677-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2677-8

Keywords

Navigation