The metabolic syndrome and sexual function in climacteric women: a cross-sectional study

Studies have associated the metabolic syndrome with poor sexual function; the results, however, are controversial.

To evaluate the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and sexual function and to identify the factors associated with poor sexual function.

A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional cohort study including 256 women of 40-60 years of age receiving care at the outpatient department of a university teaching hospital.

A specific questionnaire was applied to collect sociodemographic and behavioral data, and the Short Personal Experience Questionnaire was used to evaluate sexual function, with a score ≤ 7 being indicative of poor sexual function. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, follicle-stimulating hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone levels were determined.

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, as defined by the International Diabetes Federation, was 62.1%, and the prevalence of poor sexual function was 31.4%. The only factor related to female sexual function that was associated with the metabolic syndrome was sexual dysfunction in the woman's partner. The factors associated with poor sexual function in the bivariate analysis were age >50 years (P=0.003), not having a partner (P<0.001), being postmenopausal (P=0.046), the presence of hot flashes (P=0.02), poor self-perception of health (P=0.04), partner's age ≥ 50 years, and time with partner ≥ 21 years. Reported active (P=0.02) and passive (P=0.01) oral sex was associated with an absence of sexual dysfunction. In the multiple regression analysis, the only factor associated with poor sexual function was being 50 years of age or more.

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was high and was not associated with poor sexual function in this sample of menopausal women. The only factor associated with poor sexual function was being over 50 years of age.