Sexual Dysfunction in the Life Cycle of Women: Implications for Psychological Health

Objective: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a prevalent but frequently overlooked condition that adversely affects women's quality of life and psychological well-being. This study aimed to examine the relationship between SD and depression, anxiety, and stress levels during premenopausal, pregnancy, and postmenopausal. Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 300 women aged 18-70 who presented with SD symptoms to a tertiary care gynecology outpatient clinic. Participants were categorized into premenopausal, pregnant, and postmenopausal groups. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and psychological status was evaluated with the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors associated with SD. Results: The results showed that SD prevalence varied across life stages, with the highest rate (96%) observed in postmenopausal women. Significant decreases were found in all FSFI subscales, particularly lubrication and orgasm, during the postmenopausal period (p < 0.001). Although DASS-21 total scores did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.227), severe stress was more prevalent in premenopausal women (p = 0.018). Univariate logistic regression revealed that older age, higher parity, and menopause increased SD risk (p < 0.001), while employment (p = 0.006), higher education (p = 0.012), and pregnancy (p < 0.001) were protective factors. Multivariate analysis identified parity as the only independent variable significantly increasing SD risk (p = 0.011). Weak but significant negative correlations were found between FSFI total score and DASS-21 total (r = -0.137, p = 0.018), anxiety (r = -0.135, p = 0.019), and depression (r = -0.176, p = 0.002) scores. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of individualized assessment and treatment approaches for women's sexual health across different life stages, considering the influence of various biological, psychological, and social factors.