The association between depression and female sexual function in postmenopausal women

This study aimed to investigate the association between depression and female sexual function among postmenopausal women.

The study group was composed of 232 sexually active postmenopausal women. Serum testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, fasting glucose, insulin, sex hormone-binding globulin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels were analyzed. Quantification of pelvic organ prolapse was performed for each patient. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were distributed and compared between postmenopausal and premenopausal women.

The mean BDI score was 17.5 ± 9.8. Sexual dysfunction determined by the mean FSFI score was 64.2%. In total, 70.5% of the postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction had moderate to severe depression. There was a low negative correlation between age and duration after menopause and mean FSFI scores (r = -0.334 and r = -386, respectively). There was a negligible positive correlation between age and duration after menopause and mean BDI scores (r = 0.281 and r = 0.276, respectively). The satisfaction domain of the FSFI was significantly decreased with postmenopausal depression.

Postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction had higher depression scores. Age and time after menopause were weakly associated with both FSFI and BDI scores in postmenopausal women.