RESUMEN
Background: The Female Sexual Function index (FSFI), is a scale designed to evaluate sexuality and diagnose the presence of sexual dysfunction in women. Aim: To apply the FSFI to climacteric women. Patients and methods: The FSFI was applied to 370 healthy women aged between 40 and 59years old (49 ± 6years) that accompanied patients to public health services in Santiago. Results: Fifty six percent of women were married, 44 percent were postmenopausal, 6 percent used hormone replacement therapy, 67 percent were sexually active, and sexual dysfunction was present in 57 percent of them. Thirty two percent of women aged between 40 and 44 years and 65 percent of women aged between 55 and 59 years, had sexual dysfunction (p <0.01). In a logistic regression model, the risk of sexual dysfunction increased among women that perceive having health problems (Odds ratio (OR) 3-9; 95 percento confidence intervals (95 percent CI): 1.1-13-8), women older than 48 years (OR 1.9; 95 percent CI: 1.1-3-4) and women that gave birth to two or more children (OR 1.8; 95 percent CI: 1.0-3-1). Conclusions: Climateric women have high prevalence of sexual dysfunction. Age is its main risk factor.