Prevalencia de disfunción sexual en mujeres climatéricas / Prevalence of sexual dysfunction among climacteric women

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.

Evaluación de la calidad de vida en mujeres de 40 a 59 años mediante la escala MRS (Menopause Rating Scale) / Assessment of quality of life using the Menopause Rating Scale in women aged 40 to 59 years

Background: Climacteric symptoms have a direct relationship with biological and sociocultural factors and significantly impair the quality of life of women. Aim: To assess quality of life and factors affecting it in women aged 40 to 59 years. Material and methods: The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was applied to 370 healthy women aged 49 ± 6 years, that accompanied patients to public hospitals in Santiago. Results: Forty four percent of women were postmenopausal and 6 percent used hormone replacement therapy. Half of the group had less than 12 years of formal education and 67 percent had a couple. The mean number of children was 2.8 ± 1.5. Total MRS score was 16.2 ± 8.5. The higher score was given by the psychological domain (7.7 + 4.4), followed by the somatic domain (5.8 ± 3.5). The urogenital domain had the lowest score (2.7 ± 2.9). Eighty percent of women had moderate to severe climacteric symptoms. A logistic regression analysis showed that the postmenopausal condition was the factor that caused the greatest derangement in quality of life, followed by her parity. Formal education had the lowest impact. Conclusions: In this sample of women, menopause significantly deteriorated quality of life and sociocultural factors such as the parity also had an impact.