Dataset Information

Association of lifestyle and relationship factors with sexual functioning of women during midlife.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

As women progress through menopause, they experience changes in sexual functioning that are multifactorial, likely encompassing biological, psychological, and social domains.

Aim

To examine the effects that physical activity, sleep difficulties, and social support have on partnered sexual activity and sexual functioning in women at different stages of the menopausal progression.

Methods

As part of an ongoing 5-year longitudinal study, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of sexual functioning data.

Main outcome measures

Participation in partnered sexual activities, reasons for nonparticipation in such activities among sexually inactive women, and, among sexually active women, sexual functioning defined as engagement in and enjoyment of sexually intimate activities.

Results

Of 677 participants aged 41-68, 68% had participated in any partnered sexual activities (i.e., were sexually active) during the past 6 months. Reasons for sexual inactivity included lack of a partner (70%), lack of interest in sex (12%) or in the current partner (5%), and physical problems (4%). Sexually active participants tended to be younger, married, more educated, have more social support in general, fewer comorbid medical illnesses, a lower body mass index, and a higher prevalence of vaginal dryness. Among the sexually active participants, their scores for engagement in activities ranging from kissing to sexual intercourse were higher if they were physically active, had more social support, and lacked sleeping difficulties. Likewise, scores for sexual enjoyment were higher if they were physically active, had more social support, and lacked vaginal dryness. Engagement and enjoyment scores were not associated with marital status or other factors.

Conclusions

In midlife women, having social support and being physically active are associated with enhanced sexual engagement and enjoyment.

SUBMITTER: Hess R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2752308 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Association of lifestyle and relationship factors with sexual functioning of women during midlife.

Hess Rachel R Conroy Molly B MB Ness Roberta R Bryce Cindy L CL Dillon Stacey S Chang Chung-Chou Ho CC Matthews Karen A KA

The journal of sexual medicine 20090501 5

<h4>Introduction</h4>As women progress through menopause, they experience changes in sexual functioning that are multifactorial, likely encompassing biological, psychological, and social domains.<h4>Aim</h4>To examine the effects that physical activity, sleep difficulties, and social support have on partnered sexual activity and sexual functioning in women at different stages of the menopausal progression.<h4>Methods</h4>As part of an ongoing 5-year longitudinal study, we conducted a cross-secti ...[more]

PMID: 19473287

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Project description:ImportanceWomen in midlife often develop chronic conditions and experience declines in physical health and function. Identifying factors associated with declines in physical health and function among these women may allow for targeted interventions.ObjectiveTo examine the factors associated with clinically important 10-year declines in the physical component summary score (PCS) of the Short Form 36 (SF-36), a widely used patient-reported outcome measure, in women in midlife.Design, setting, and participantsThis longitudinal cohort study collected data from geographically dispersed sites in the US. Participants were part of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of women enrolled at or immediately before the menopause transition. Women have been followed for up to 21 years, between 1996 and 2016, with annual visits. Data were analyzed from October 2020 to March 2021.ExposuresDemographic indicators, health status measures, and laboratory and imaging assessments.Main outcomes and measuresThe main outcome was a clinically important decline (≥8 points) on the PCS, based on the 10-year difference in scores between ages 55 and 65 years.ResultsFrom the SWAN cohort of 3302 women, 1091 women (median [IQR] age, 54.8 [54.3-55.4] years; 264 [24.2%] Black women; 126 [11.6%] Chinese women; 135 [12.4%] Japanese women; 566 [51.9%] White women) were eligible for analyses based on duration of follow-up and availability of SF-36 data. At age 55, women had a median (IQR) body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 27.0 (23.2-32.6), a median (IQR) baseline PCS of 53.1 (46.8-56.7), 108 women (9.9%) were current smokers, and 938 women (86.3%) had at least 1 comorbidity. Between ages 55 and 65 years, the median (IQR) change in PCS was -1.02 (-6.11 to 2.53) points with 206 women (18.9%) experiencing declines of 8 points or more. In multivariable models, factors associated with clinically important decline included higher baseline PCS (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.11), greater BMI (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.09), less educational attainment (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.32-2.65), current smoking (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.14-3.26), osteoarthritis (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.01-2.09), clinically significant depressive symptoms (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.34-3.09), and cardiovascular disease (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.26-3.36).Conclusions and relevanceIn this cohort study, clinically important declines in women's physical health and function were relatively common between ages 55 and 65 years. Several variables associated with these declines were identified as potentially useful components in a clinical score identifying women at increased risk of physical health and functional declines.

Dataset Information

Association of lifestyle and relationship factors with sexual functioning of women during midlife.

Introduction

Aim

Methods

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Association of lifestyle and relationship factors with sexual functioning of women during midlife.

Similar Datasets

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