Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction symptoms and its relationship to quality of life: a Japanese female cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

To clarify the age prevalence of female sexual dysfunction and the factors that contribute to the varying frequency of sexual intercourse and satisfaction with sexual life in Japanese women.

METHODS

Of 8956 participants (median age 57 years, range 17 to 88) in a Japanese female cohort study, 5042 (56.3%) responded. We evaluated 2095 women aged 30 to 69 years (median 48) who completed a questionnaire that queried about their sexual life.

RESULTS

When women in their 30s were compared with those in their 60s, we found that the prevalence of the symptom of orgasmic disorder, sexual desire disorder, arousal disorder, and lubrication disorder had increased significantly from 15.2% to 32.2%, 27.7% to 57.9%, 29.7% to 57.9%, and 12.5% to 51.2%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the rigidity of the partner's erection, orgasm, and arousal contributed significantly to sexual frequency and foreplay and orgasm to satisfaction with sexual life.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction increased with age. The results of multivariate analysis indicated that favorable sexual function is important to maintain the opportunity for sexual intercourse in both men and women and that foreplay and orgasm are essential for satisfactory sexual life in women.