Pelvic floor muscle strength of women consulting at the gynecology outpatient clinics and its correlation with sexual dysfunction: a cross-sectional study

Objective: To investigate the pelvic floor muscle strength of the women and evaluate its possible correlation with sexual dysfunction

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Methods: In this cross-sectional type study, stratified clusters were used for the sampling method. Index of Female Sexual Function [IFSF] worksheet were used for questions on sexual function

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The pelvic floor muscle strength of subjects was assessed by perineometer. The chi-squared test, logistic regression and Pearson's correlation analysis were used for the statistical analysis

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Results: Four hundred thirty primiparous women, mean age 38.5 participated in this study. The average pelvic floor muscle strength value was found 31.4+/-9.6 cm H[2]0 and the average Index of Female Sexual Function [IFSF] score was found 26.5+/-6.9. Parity [odds ratio OR=5.546] and age 40 or higher [OR=3.484] were found correlated with pelvic floor muscle weakness [p<0.05]

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The factors directly correlated with sexual dysfunction were found being overweight [OR=2.105] and age 40 or higher [OR=2.451] [p<0.05]

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Pearson's correlation analysis showed that there was a statistically significant linear correlation between the muscular strength of the pelvic floor and sexual function [p=0.001]

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Conclusion: The results suggested subjects with decreased pelvic floor muscle strength value had higher frequency of sexual dysfunction