Female and male factors associated with female sexual function in couples aged 50-70 years: a cross-sectional study

To assess male and female factors associated with low sexual function and the components of sexual function in women between 50 and 70 years cohabiting with their partners.

This cross-sectional study, employing snowball sampling, involved 266 couples. Each couple member completed two questionnaires, providing data on sociodemographics, clinical, and behavioral characteristics, the Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire (SPEQ), Male Sexual Quotient (QS-M), and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the factors associated with female sexual function.

Multiple regression analysis showed factors associated with low global female sexual function: satisfaction with a partner (P=0.004, OR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.05-0.55), vaginal dryness (P=0.001, OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.14-0.52), men's erection disorders (P=0.009, OR: 3.57, 95% CI: 1.38-9.24), formal education (P=0.038, OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.06-0.92), and men's sexual performance according to partner's satisfaction (P=0.027, OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.03-0.81). Frequency of female sexual desire ≥1 times a week was associated with less vaginal dryness, male sexual desire ≥1 times a week, and men's ability to seduce most of the time/always. Frequency of female arousal was associated with satisfaction with a partner as a lover, less vaginal dryness, men's satisfactory erection, and excellent/good women's health self-perception. The frequency of female orgasm was associated with excellent/good women's health self-perception and frequent male sexual performance.

This study showed male and female factors impacting female sexual function. There is a need for a couple's approach.