Correlation between Sexual Function and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women and their Husbands in City of Imam -2011.

Abstract

Abstract: Background: There have been limited population –based studies on sexual function and quality of life of postmenopausal women and their husbands and their predictors in Iran, even in the world, based on our knowledge. Therefore, this study was performed to examine sexual function and quality of life of postmenopausal women and their relations with sexual function and quality of life of their husbands and to determine predictors of quality of life and sexual function of the women in Imam. Methods: In this descriptive –correlational study, 400 postmenopausal married women aged 50-59 years and their husbands were interviewed about health –related quality of life using SF -36 and about sexual function of the women using McCoy female sexuality questionnaire (MFSQ) and their husband using O'Leary brief sexual function index (BSFI). The subjects selected from 80 randomly selected clusters in the city in 2011. Data was analyzed by Student's t, ANOVA, and linear regression in SPSS18. Results: 77 of the postmenopausal women reported "not having sex" during the past 4 weeks. From possible range score of 0-100, mean (SD) score of the women sexual function was 53.3 (29.3) and in dimensions of sexual interest 43.3 (27.2), satisfaction 50.3 (26.0), lubrication 52.8 (33.4), sex partner 69.5 (29.1), orgasm 50.6 (38.8); and mean (SD) score of quality of life of the women in dimensions of physical functioning was 76.8 (19.2), general health 71.1 (29.2), mental health 74.3 (18.3) and validity 73.1 (19.6). There was a significant relationship between sexual function of postmenopausal women with their own and their husbands' quality of life, also between sexual function of the husbands with their own and their husbands' quality of life in all dimensions (p<0.001). This correlation in most dimensions was strong (r>0.7). Vasomotor symptoms, chronic disease, urinary incontinence, inadequate family income, divorced or widowed were predictors of all dimension of quality of life scores and all or 4 of 5 dimensions of sexual function in the women. Aging was predictor of score of some of the dimensions. Illiterate women, those with higher number of children and those longer postmenopausal duration had significantly lower scores in some dimensions of sexual function and quality of life, but they were not their predictors. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, sexual problems including not having sexual activity are common among couples with postmenopausal women. There are strong correlation between sexual function and quality of life of the women and their husbands. Therefore, sexual health promoting interventions are necessary for improving quality of life of menopausal women and their husbands.