Evaluation of Sexual Function Among Infertile Women and Their Sexual Self-Concept

Abstract

Background: The present study was designed to assess the association between sexual self-concept and sexual function in infertile women.

Methods: A study with a convenience sample of women attending a referral infertility center (Royan Institute) was conducted in Tehran, Iran, in 2017. The Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire (MSSCQ) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used to collect data. Chi-Square, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression were applied to analyze the data. The significance level was set at p<0.05.

Results: The mean age of participants was 29.7±5.2 years. Overall, 152 women (60.8%) reported that they were experiencing sexual dysfunction. Comparing women with and without sexual dysfunction, there were significant differences between two groups on most measures such as sexual anxiety, sexual motivation, sexual satisfaction, and sexual depression (p<0.05). However, the results obtained from logistic regression indicated that women’s and husband’s age (OR for women’s age=1.26, 95% CI=1.10-1.44, p<0.001; OR for husband’s age=0.86, 95% CI=0.77-0.97, p=0.014), cause of infertility (OR for female factor=9.17, 95% CI=2.26-37.2, p=0.002; OR for male factor=3.90, 95% CI=1.26-12.1, p=0.018; OR for male and female factor=3.57, 95% CI=1.12-11.4, p=0.032), sexual motivation (OR=0.35, 95% CI=0.16-0.75, p= 0.007) and sexual satisfaction (OR=0.23, 95% CI=0.09-0.56, p=0.001) were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that sexual motivation and sexual satisfaction are important dimensions of sexual self-concept in infertile women. Indeed, it is essential to inform policy makers and stakeholders to provide more sexual health support for this population in the process of treatment.