eISSN: 2299-0038
ISSN: 1643-8876
Menopause Review/Przegląd Menopauzalny
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4/2023
vol. 22
 
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abstract:
Original paper

Association between menopausal symptoms, sexual function, and sexual activity – a cross-sectional study

Danielly Yani Fausto
1
,
Julia Beatriz Bocchi Martins
1
,
Juliana da Silveira
1
,
Fernando Luiz Cardoso
1
,
Adriana Coutinho de Azevedo Guimarães
1

  1. Santa Catarina State University, Florianópolis, Brazil
Menopause Rev 2023; 22(4): 220-226
Online publish date: 2023/12/11
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Introduction
To analyse the possible association between menopausal symptoms (somatic-vegetative, psychological, and urogenital) and sexual function with the maintenance of the sexual activity of women in menopause.

Material and methods
This cross-sectional study comprised 96 menopausal women aged 40–59 (52.88 ±4.05) years, who presented a positive score to the menopause rating scale (MRS) and had serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone ≥ 25 IU/ml. Participants who used hormone replacement therapy were excluded.

Results
It was observed that participants who had an active sexual life had lower medians in the somatic-vegetative (p < 0.001) and psychological symptoms (p = 0.006), as well as in the general score (p = 0.001) at the MRS; in addition, they had better sexual function in 4 domains (p < 0.005): excitement, lubrication, orgasm, and pain, as well as in the total score of the female sexual function index questionnaire (p < 0.005). It was also found that, regardless of the type of menopause (surgical or natural), women who did not engage in sexual activity had a score of 5.651 points more in the MRS (p = 0.004), demonstrating that the practice of sexual activity predicts in 10.4% the variation in the symptom score.

Conclusions
Menopausal women who maintain sexual activity had a lower score on the menopause symptom score and better sexual function compared to those who did not perform sexual activity.

keywords:

cross-sectional study, menopause, sexual behaviour, sexual function, women

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