Sexual dysfunction in younger insulin-treated diabetic females. A comparative study

The presence of sexual dysfunction was studied comparatively in 80 insulin treated diabetic women, 26-45 years of age, and in an age-matched control group of women without chronic somatic disease or psychiatric illness. We found no significant difference in the incidence of sexual dysfunction between the two groups (27.5% and 25% respectively). In diabetics and controls, the most common symptom of sexual dysfunction was reduced libido (22.5% in both groups) while only 18% complained of orgasmic dysfunction. In diabetics, sexual dysfunction was not correlated to age and diabetes duration. Sexual dysfunction was correlated to peripheral neuropathy but not to retinopathy, nephropathy, reduced beat-to-beat variation, regulation quality, insulin treatment and age at diabetes onset. Nearly half the patients reporting sexual dysfunction were without any late diabetic complications, indicating the influence of psychosocial factors. Somatopsychic reactions (emotional reactions to somatic disease) seem to be of relevance, although diabetic women may have less problems in this area than diabetic men. A better acceptance of the disease might partly explain the difference in sexual complications between diabetic males and females. Diabetic women and their partners should be offered, at least once a year, the possibility to discuss interpersonal relationships and the emotional aspects of living with diabetes. Most sexual problems should be handled in the diabetes clinic and only selected cases referred for sex therapy.