Risk factors for low sexual function among urban Chinese women: a hospital-based investigation

Sexual dysfunction is a common problem affecting women's quality of life. However, reports on sexual dysfunction and its risk factors in Chinese women are scarce in the literature.

To identify the potential risk factors for low sexual function in urban Chinese women.

A cross-sectional hospital-based survey was conducted in Nanjing, China. Data on sexual function and related variables of 1,457 women from the urban district of Nanjing city were obtained. Potential risk factors for low sexual function were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis.

The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to evaluate sexual function, and the median of the FSFI score was used as a cutoff to define women with low sexual function.

The mean FSFI total score was 23.25 ± 4.00 (median = 22.8). Multivariate analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.840 for 40-49 years; 5.006 for 50-60 years), depression (OR 1.896), low education level (primary or secondary school only, OR 1.450), alcohol use (OR 2.671), menopause or postmenopause (OR 3.157), chronic medical disease (OR 1.605), poor health status of partner (OR 3.358), presence of sexual dysfunction in partner (OR 4.604), dystocia (OR 3.109), and living apart from the partner (OR 1.316) were independent risk factors for low sexual function of women in urban China. By contrast, better communication with the partner regarding sex (OR 0.531) was a protective factor.

Low sexual function for urban Chinese women was associated with multiple variables. Women who communicated more frequently with their partner were less likely to have low sexual function.