Effect of myocardial infarction on female sexual function in women

The aim of this study was to assess sexual function in female patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

As research instruments, an interview form of 20 questions that questioned personal characteristics was developed by researchers, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) that evaluated sexual dysfunction was used. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to evaluate depression.

In the course of this study, 45 female patients (62.73 ± 8.55 years) with MI and 50 control women were interviewed. The total FSFI score was 16.41 ± 8.04 in the MI group versus 23.13 ± 3.95 (P < 0.001) in the control group. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction is significantly higher and the mean FSFI score was significantly lower in MI group women in comparison with the control group. Subscale scores of desire, arousal, lubrication and orgasm domains were lower than the other subscale scores in the MI group. Besides, 75.6% of the women in the MI group and 48.2% of women in the control group had a female sexual dysfunction. The frequency of intercourse was significantly lower in women with MI (1.55 ± 0.50 times last month) compared to the control group (2.14 ± 1.04 times last month). No significant differences were detected between the mean total BDI scores. But the correlation between FSFI and BDI total scores indicates that the increasing BDI scores in MI and control groups affected the total FSFI scores negatively.

Sexual problems are frequent in women with MI. Sexuality should be evaluated after MI and patients' education and counseling may contribute to a better sexual function.