Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
International Urogynecology Journal
Published in: International Urogynecology Journal 1/2009

01-05-2009 | IUGA Female Sexual Dysfunction Roundtable 2008

Sexual function in women: what is normal?

Published in: International Urogynecology Journal | Special Issue 1/2009

Login to get access

Abstract

Sexual function in women has often been measured by clinicians using parameters which appear easier to assess (frequency and pain). Therefore, the range of normality is often broad and of limited value when investigating population groups. The most important features to explore are satisfaction and/or distress with sexual activity. Although female sexual activity decreases with age, dissatisfaction also declines, and rates of female sexual dysfunction may not change significantly. There are cultural differences in sexual behaviour across the world, but overall a satisfying sexual life is important for women’s quality of life.
Literature
1.
2.
Hart G, Wellings K (2002) Sexual behaviour and its medicalisation: in sickness and in health. Br Med J 324:896–900CrossRef
3.
Glatt AE, Zinner SH, McCormack WM (1990) The prevalence of dyspareunia. Ob Gynecol 75(3Pt1):433–436
4.
Beckman N, Waern M, Gustafson D, Skoog I (2008) Secular trends in self reported sexual activity and satisfaction in Swedish 70 year olds: cross sectional survey of four populations, 1971–2001. BMJ 337:151–154CrossRef
5.
Lindau ST, Schumm LP, Laumann EO, Levinson W, O’Muircheartaigh CA, Waite LJ (2007) A study of sexuality and health among older adults in the United States. N Engl J Med 357:762–774PubMedCrossRef
6.
Masters WH, Johnson VE (1966) Human sexual response. Little Brown, Boston
7.
Kaplan HS (1995) The sexual desire disorders. Brunner-Routledge, New York
8.
Basson R, Berman J, Burnett A, Derogatis L, Ferguson D, Fourcroy J et al (2000) Report of the international consensus development conference on female sexual dysfunction: definitions and classifications. Urology 163:888–893CrossRef
9.
Bancroft J, Loftus J, Long JS (2003) Distress about sex: a national survey of women in heterosexual relationships. Arch Sex Behav 32(3):193–208PubMedCrossRef
10.
American Psychiatric Association (2000) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric association, Washington DC
11.
Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC (1999) Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 281(6):537–544PubMedCrossRef
12.
Laumann EO, Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Paik A, Gingell C, Moreira E, Wang T, GSSAB Investigators Group (2005) Sexual problems among women and men aged 40–80 y: prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. Int J Impot Res 17(1):39–57PubMedCrossRef
13.
Graziottin A (2007) Prevalence and evaluation of sexual health problems—HSDD in Europe. J Sex Med 4(Suppl 3):211–219PubMedCrossRef
14.
Nazareth I, Boynton P, King M (2003) Problems with sexual function in people attending London general practitioners:cross sectional study. Br Med J 327(7412):423CrossRef
15.
Signorello LB, Harlow BL, Chekos AK, Repke JT (2001) Postpartum sexual functioning and its relationship to perineal trauma: a retrospective cohort study of primiparous women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 184(5):881–890PubMedCrossRef
16.
Barrett G, Pendry E, Peacock J, Victor C, Thakar R, Manyonda I (2000) Women’s sexual health after childbirth. BJOG 107(2):186–195PubMedCrossRef
17.
Hayes RD, Dennerstein L (2005) The impact of aging on sexual function and sexual dysfunction in women: A Review of population-based studies. J Sex Med 2:317–330PubMedCrossRef
18.
Hayes RD, Dennerstein L, Bennett CM, Fairley CK (2008) What is the “true” prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions and does the way we assess these conditions have an impact? J Sex Med 5(4):777–787PubMedCrossRef
19.
Diokno AC, Brown MB, Herzog AR (1990) Sexual function in the elderly. Arch Int Med 150(1):197–200CrossRef
20.
Johnson AM, Mercer CH, Erens B, Copas AJ, McManus S, Wellings K, Kenton KA, Korovessis, MacDoweall W, Nanchahal K, Purdon S, Field J (2001) Sexual behaviour in Britain: partnership, practices, and HIV risk behaviors. Lancet 358;9296:1835–1842CrossRef
21.
Sarrel PM, Whitehead MI (1985) Sex and menopause: defining the issues. Maturitas 1985 7(3):217–224CrossRef
22.
Avis NE, Stellato R, Crawford S, Johannes C, Longcope C (2000) Is there an association between menopause status and sexual functioning? Menopause 7:286–288CrossRef
23.
Ballinger SE (1985) Psychosocial stress and symptoms of the menopause: a comparative study of menopause clinic patients and non-patients. Maturitas 7:315–327PubMedCrossRef
24.
Cain VS, Johannes CB, Avis NE, Mohr B, Schocken M, Skurnick J et al (2003) Sexual functioning and practices in a multi-ethnic study of midlife women: baseline results from SWAN. J Sex Res 40(3):266–276PubMedCrossRef
25.
James WH (1983) Decline in coital rate with spouses’ ages and duration of marriage. J Biosoc Sci 15:83–87PubMed
26.
Pfeiffer E, Davies GC (1972) Determinants of sexual behaviour in middle and old age. J Am Geriatr Soc 20:151–158PubMed
27.
Hallstrom T, Samuelsson S (1990) Changes in women’s sexual desire in middle life: the longitudinal study of women in Gothenburg. Arch Sex Behav 19(3):259–268PubMedCrossRef
28.
Osborn M, Hawton K, Gath D (1988) Sexual dysfunction amongst middle aged women in the community. Br Med J 296(6627):959–962CrossRef
29.
Hawton K, Gath D, Day A (1994) Sexual function in a community sample of middle-aged women with partners: effects of age, marital, socioeconomic, psychiatric, gynecological, and menopausal factors. Arch Sex Behav 23(4):375–395PubMedCrossRef
30.
Dennerstein L, Guthrie JR, Hayes RD, DeRogatis LR, Lehert P (2008) Sexual function, dysfunction and sexual dustress in a prospective, population based sample of mid-aged, Australian-born women. Int J Sex Med 5:2291–2299CrossRef
31.
Hallstrom T (1977) Sexuality in the climacteric. Clin Obstet Gynecol 4(1):227–239
32.
Dennerstein L, Smith AM, Morse AM, Burger H (1994) Sexuality and the menopause. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1994 15(1):59–66CrossRef
33.
Dennerstein L, Randolph J, Taffe J, Dudley E, Burger H (2002) Hormones, mood, sexuality and the menopausal transition. Fertil Steril 77(Supp4):S42–48PubMedCrossRef
34.
Leiblum SR (2002) Menopausal women with HSDD report decreased sexual activity. Menopause 9:474
35.
Sarrel PM (1990) Sexuality and menopause. Obstet Gynecol 75:26s–30PubMed
36.
Bachman GA, Leiblum SR (2004) The impact of hormones on menopausal sexuality. Menopause 11:120–130CrossRef
37.
Cardozo L, Bachmann G, McClish D, Fonda D, Birgerson L (1998) Meta-analysis of estrogen therapy in the management of urogenital atrophy in postmenopausal women: second report of the Hormones and Urogenital Therapy Committee. Obstet Gynecol 92(4 Pt 2):722–727PubMedCrossRef
38.
Suckling J, Lethaby A, Kennedy R (2006) Local oestrogen for vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev
39.
Leiblum S, Bachmann G, Kenmann E, Colburn D, Swatzman L. (1983) Vaginal atrophy in the postmenopausal woman. The importance of sexual activity and hormones. JAMA 249(16):195–198CrossRef
40.
Burger HG, Dudley EC, Cui J, Dennerstein L, Hopper JL (2000) A prospective longitudinal study of serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin levels through the menopause transition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85:2032–2838CrossRef
41.
42.
Hallstrom T (1977) Sexuality in the climacteric. Clin Obstet Gynaecol 4(1):227–239PubMed
43.
Gracia CR, Sammel MD, Freeman EW, Liu L, Hollander L, Nelson DB (2004) Predictors of decreased libido in women during the late reproductive years. Menopause 4;11(2):144–150CrossRef
44.
Jaszmann L (1973) Epidemiology of climacteric and climacteric complaints. Front Hormone Res 2:22–34
45.
Bachmann GA, Leiblum SR, Grill J (1989) 1989 Brief sexual inquiry in gynecologic practice. Obstet Gynecol 73(3 Pt 1):425–427PubMed
46.
Plouffe L (1985) Screening for sexual problems through a simple questionnaire. Am J Obstet Gynecol 151(2):166–169PubMed
47.
Berman L, Berman J, Felder S, Pollets D, Chhabra S, Miles M, Powell JA (2003) Seeking help for sexual function complaints: what gynecologists need to know about the female patient’s experience. Fertil Steril 79(3):572–576PubMedCrossRef
48.
Nusbaum MM, Helton MR, Ray N (2004) The changing nature of women’s sexual health concerns through the midlife years. Maturitas 49(4):283–291PubMedCrossRef
49.
Nusbaum MM, Braxton L, Strayhom G (2005) The sexual concerns of African American, Asian American, and white women seeking routine gynecological care. J Am Board Fam Pract 18(3):173–179PubMedCrossRef
50.
51.
Bancroft J, Loftus J, Long JS (2003) Distress about sex: a national survey of women in heterosexual relationships. Arch Sex Behav 32(3):193–208PubMedCrossRef
52.
Dennerstein L, Lehert P (2004) Women’s sexual functioning, lifestyle, mid-age, and menopause in 12 European countries. Menopause 11(6 Pt 2):778–785PubMedCrossRef
53.
Fugl-Meyer AR, Fugl-Meyer K (1999) Sexual disabilities, problems and satisfaction in 18–74 year old Swedes. Scand J Sex 2:79–105
54.
Nappi NE, Nijland EA (2008) Women’s perception of sexuality around the menopause: outcomes of a European telephone survey. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 137(1):10–16PubMedCrossRef
55.
Nicolosi A, Laumann EO, Glasser DB, Moreira ED Jr, Paik A, Gingell C (2004) Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Investigators’ Group. Sexual behavior and sexual dysfunctions after age 40: the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Urology 64(5):991–997PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Sexual function in women: what is normal?
Publication date
01-05-2009
Published in
International Urogynecology Journal / Issue Special Issue 1/2009
Print ISSN: 0937-3462
Electronic ISSN: 1433-3023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0841-x

Other articles of this Special Issue 1/2009

International Urogynecology Journal 1/2009 Go to the issue

IUGA Female Sexual Dysfunction Roundtable 2008

Introduction to the 2008 IUGA Sexual Dysfunction in Women Roundtable

IUGA Female Sexual Dysfunction Roundtable 2008

Evaluation and treatment of female sexual disorders

IUGA Female Sexual Dysfunction Roundtable 2008

Shortcomings/strengths of specific sexual function questionnaires currently used in urogynecology: a literature review

IUGA Female Sexual Dysfunction Roundtable 2008

IUGA Sexual Dysfunction in Women Roundtable

IUGA Female Sexual Dysfunction Roundtable 2008

Sexual health of women with pelvic floor disorders

IUGA Female Sexual Dysfunction Roundtable 2008

Review of current status of female sexual dysfunction evaluation in urogynecology