Sexual Function and Sexual Frequency among Chinese Women in Hong Kong: Implications for Public Health Services

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a public health problem because of its high prevalence and harmful impacts on women’s physical health, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life. The objective of this exploratory study was to identify risk factors of sexual dysfunction and assess the sexual function of Hong Kong Chinese women. Results were compared with findings on American women. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data via convenience sampling. Participants of the study (N = 1011) were women (aged 18 or above) from diverse demographic backgrounds. Sexual function of Hong Kong Chinese women was generally adequate, but significantly lower than that of American women. Women of older age (41 years old or above), lower education (primary or below), divorced, in menopause or with oophorectomy were at risk of FSD. Women at risk of FSD also exhibited a decline of sexual frequency which implicated poor sexual health. With the risk factors identified, public health professionals could implement targeted health services that would tackle the problems of FSD in good time and promote the sexual health of women who are distressed by the problems.​

Atividade sexual apos infarto agudo do miocárdio / Sexual activity after myocardial infarction

Fundamento: dificuldades no retorno às atividades sexuais têm sido queixa frequente dos pacientes em ambulatórios de cardiologia sendo que a abordagem e orientações da equipe de saúde são escassas e evasivas. Objetivo: avaliar a orientação profissional sobre o retorno à vida sexual, o tempo de retorno às atividades sexuais e a satisfação sexual em pacientes pós-infarto do miocárdio. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo, com 16 indivíduos do sexo masculino, faixa etária de 35 a 66 anos (51,4 ± 9,3 anos), após o período de internação por infarto do miocárdio. Foi aplicada entrevista semi-estruturada, com questões acerca das orientações recebidas durante o período hospitalar, tempo de retorno, qualidade e frequência da atividade sexual. Resultados: entre os entrevistados, 56,3% não receberam orientação sobre o retorno à vida sexual. Entretanto, todos os pacientes referiram ter retornado as atividades sexuais. O tempo médio de retorno foi de 6,7 semanas. Com relação à frequência, 62,5% relataram diminuição no número de relações sexuais. Quando questionados sobre a qualidade da relação sexual, 43% apresentaram redução no grau de satisfação. Porém, as queixas referentes às disfunções sexuais foram maiores que aquelas inerentes aos sintomas da doença como angina, dispnéia e palpitações. Conclusões: pacientes pós-infarto do miocárdio apresentam significativa redução na qualidade e na frequência sexual. Sugere-se que esse prejuízo pode ser minimizado com orientação profissional sobre o retorno à atividade sexual e encaminhamento a programas de reabilitação cardíaca e, se necessário, ao especialista em sexualidade humana.

Background: difficulties in returning to sexual activity have been frequent complaint of patients in outpatient cardiology and the professional approach and guidelines from health staff are scarce and evasive. Objective: to evaluate the guidance about the returning to sexual life, the time of return to sexual activity and the sexual satisfaction in patients after myocardial infarction event. Methods: retrospective study, with 16 males, aged 35-66 years (51.4 ± 9.3 years) after the period of hospitalization for myocardial infarction. It was applied a semi-structured interview with questions about the guidance received during the hospitalization period, the turnaround time and, the quality and frequency of sexual activity. Results: among respondents, 56.3% received no guidance about returning to sexual activity. However, all patients reported to have returned to their sexual activity. The average time return was 6.7 weeks. Concerning the frequency, 62.5% reported a decrease in the number of sexual relations. When asked about the quality of sexual intercourse, 43% showed a reduced degree of satisfaction. However, complaints relating to sexual dysfunction were greater than those inherent to the disease symptoms such as angina, dyspnea, and palpitations. Conclusions: patients after myocardial infarction show significant reduction in the quality and frequency of sexual intercourse. We suggest that this damage could be minimized with a professional guidance about returning to sexual activity and with a referral to cardiac rehabilitation programs. If still necessary, we suggest conducting the patients to the expert in human sexuality.