Assessing Sexual Dysfunction in Female Medical Students: The Role of Contraceptive Methods

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Medical Education
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a complex condition influenced by psychological and hormonal factors.
• Medical students, often experiencing stress and being of reproductive age, are a relevant population for studying FSD.
• Contraceptive use is common among women of reproductive age and may impact sexual function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of FSD among female medical students in Brazil.
• To investigate the association between contraceptive use and FSD in this population.
• To explore the specific role of hormonal contraceptives (HC) versus non-hormonal methods.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 241 female medical students in Brazil.
• Anonymous online survey collecting sociodemographic data, sexual history, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of FSD.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of FSD was 47.6% among the participants.
• Current contraceptive use was reported by 66.8% of students, with hormonal contraceptives being most common.
• Intrauterine device use was independently associated with a lower likelihood of FSD.

Conclusions:

• Hormonal contraceptives, particularly intrauterine devices, may have a protective effect on female sexual function in stressed student populations.
• The relationship between contraception and sexual function in young women warrants further investigation due to heterogeneous findings.
• Understanding FSD in medical students is crucial for addressing their reproductive and sexual health needs amidst academic pressures.