Global prevalence of female sexual dysfunction based on physical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

There is a strong connection between physical activity and major non-communicable diseases. Women's sexual health is a vital aspect of life at any age; however, it is influenced by many factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the global prevalence of female sexual dysfunction based on physical activity through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In this study, electronic repositories including PubMed, Google scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and ScienceDirect were systematically searched using specified keywords, without a lower time limit, up until March 2025. A random effects model was employed to perform the meta-analysis. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed using the I² index. Data analysis was conducted within the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software (version 2).

In the review of 7 studies with a sample size of 1,776 participants, the pooled prevalence of female sexual dysfunction with high physical activity was estimated to be 47% (95% CI: 28.8-65.9). Also, in the review of 6 studies with a sample size of 2,094 participants, the pooled prevalence of female sexual dysfunction among those with low physical activity or a sedentary lifestyle was found to be 64.6% (95% CI: 44.5-80.6).

In this meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of sexual dysfunction among inactive women was reported to be higher and more significant than that of physically active women. Thus, it is necessary for health policymakers to further promote the importance of physical activity to prevent and reduce female sexual dysfunction.