COVID-19 pandemic effect on female sexual function.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Psychological Impact of Pandemics
• Sociomedical Sciences

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread effects on daily life and mental well-being.
• Understanding its impact on sensitive areas like sexual function is crucial for public health.
• Previous research has indicated potential links between pandemics and psychological distress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual function of Turkish women.
• To compare sexual function, anxiety, and depression levels before and during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study utilizing pre-existing data and newly collected questionnaire data.
• Assessment of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores.
• Comparison of scores from before and during the pandemic period.

Main Results:

• Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores showed a non-significant decrease during the pandemic (21.8 vs 21.0, p=0.27).
• Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were significantly higher during the pandemic (p<0.01 for both).
• BAI scores negatively correlated with FSFI scores (p<0.01), while BDI scores showed no significant correlation (p=0.07).

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic did not appear to significantly alter female sexual function among Turkish women.
• However, the pandemic was significantly associated with increased levels of anxiety and depression.
• These findings highlight the psychological toll of the pandemic on women's mental health.