Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in climacteric women: Influence of menopause and hormone replacement therapy

Background: Few trials have studied the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) and related risk factors in postmenopausal women using the DSM-IV criteria. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of SD in menopausal women and the impact of risk factors. Patients and methods: Five hundred thirty four healthy women, 40 to 64 years of age were interviewed using the Laumann test (DSM-IV). Results: Mean age was 52.4±5.7 years. Eighty three percent were peri or postmenopausal, 23% used hormonal substitution therapy and 79.2% were sexually active. Among sexually active women, the prevalence of SD increased along with age, from 22.2% at the 40-44 years old range to 66.0% in the 60-64 years old group. Hormone users and healthy women had a low risk for SD (Odds ratio (OR): 0.1 IC: 0.0-0.1 and OR: 0.6 IC: 0.3-0.9, respectively). The risk increased in menopausal women (OR: 3.3 IC: 1.6-6.9), those older than 49 years (OR: 3.4 IC: 1.8-6.4), those subjected to hysterectomy (OR: 3.7 IC: 1.3-10.6) or those with an impotent sexual partner (OR: 3.2 IC: 1.2-8.6). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of SD among climacteric women. Estrogens, either endogenous or exogenous, have a positive influence on sexuality (Rev Méd Chile 2002; 130: 1131-8)