Female sexual dysfunctions: prevalence and related factors in a sample of young university women – a cross-sectional study

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of women with mental illness (WMI) - An integrative mixed-method study

Background

Women with mental illness (WMI) are more likely to experience unreported sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems. Mixed-method research studies with the strengths of quantitative and qualitative approaches provide deeper insight into SRH issues of WMI.

Methods

A sequential explanatory mixed-method design was used to understand better the SRH problems of WMI attending tertiary care psychiatry hospital. In phase 1, a survey was conducted to identify if they have SRH problems. Women who were identified to have SRH problems were part of Phase II. In this phase, in-depth interview was conducted to explore their lived-in experiences. Integration at the method level was adopted by connection through sampling. Using a narrative approach, integration was accomplished at the level of interpretation and reporting.

Results

Among the users, 261 (64.6%) female sterilization, 244 (93%) was the most common, and the other methods like coitus interruptus, male condoms, and intrauterine devices were reported less. Of the non-users, 137 (33.9%) WMI 100 (73%) were unaware of the best family planning approach. Most of them, 377 (93.3%), were ignorant about sexually transmitted infection (STI) symptoms. WMI reported 62 (15.3%) unusual foul-smelling vaginal discharge and 58 (14.4%) genital ulcers, with poor treatment-seeking behavior. Sexual dysfunction in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain were also reported. The findings were described in a single report based on the quantitative data followed by themes obtained from qualitative interviews using weaving techniques under the headings of contraceptive use and its awareness, prevalence of STI symptoms and its treatment, and sexual health experiences.

Conclusion

Data integration demonstrated that one-fourth of WMI had inadequate awareness of contraceptive use, were ignorant of STI symptoms, and experienced sexual dysfunction.

Sexual dysfunction in women with breast cancer of Northeast Brazil: a retrospective longitudinal study

Breast cancer treatment leads to physical and psychological changes. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of sexual dysfunction and its risk factors in women diagnosed with breast cancer. This retrospective cohort study included women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer (exposed group, n = 90) and healthy women (non-exposed group, n = 93). Data were collected from February 2019 to October 2021 in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (Northeast Brazil), from medical records and using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Data were collected from medical records and using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Primary outcomes were analyzed using binary logistic regression. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze FSFI domains between groups. The exposed group had a 74% incidence of sexual dysfunction and 3.9 times increased chances of having sexual dysfunction compared with the non-exposed group (OR 3.9, CI 1.8 to 8.2, p < 0.001). Presence of comorbidities increased the chances of sexual dysfunction by 2.5 times (OR 2.5, CI 1.2 to 4.9, p = 0.009). Women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer had a higher incidence of sexual dysfunction than healthy women. Furthermore, comorbidities also increased the chances of sexual dysfunction regardless of exposure to breast cancer.

Sexual dysfunctions in female university students and the correlation with body image: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

This study aims to correlate female sexual dysfunctions and dissatisfaction with female university students' body image.

METHODS

276 female university students completed an online questionnaire, including sociodemographic data, the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Body Shape Questionnaire.

RESULTS

31.1% reported some degree of dissatisfaction with body image, and 39.5% had a risk of female sexual dysfunction. The majority of women with a risk of female sexual dysfunctions (69.4%) had no concerns with shape, and the majority of women without sexual problems (67.7%) had no concerns with shape. Pearson's coefficient underlined no correlation between Body Shape Questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index domains.

CONCLUSION

The body image perception did not seem to affect the sexual function of female university students in our sample. However, it is important to further investigate these variables to improve women's quality of life.