Infrastructure for Population Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Menopause. 2022 Nov 1;29(11):1239-1246. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002054. Epub 2022 Sep 6.
Increasing age and menopausal transition increase the risk of sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is common in women experiencing menopause before the age of 40 years, whereas evidence on sexual function in women experiencing menopause in their mid-40s is scarce. We aimed to investigate sexual function in 46-year-old women in relation to their menopausal status.
This study cross-sectionally evaluated sexual function of women in a prospective population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966). A 46-year follow-up study of NFBC1966 included a broad questionnaire evaluating health, lifestyle, and life situation, as well as menstrual history and sexual function, and blood sampling analysis including follicle stimulating hormone and free androgen index (FAI). The participants were divided into two groups by their menopause status, defined by follicle-stimulating hormone and menstrual history. We performed logistic regression models in which parameters of sexual function were dependent factors and climacteric status, self-reported health, FAI, relationship status, smoking, and education level were independent variables.
The study population included 2,661 women. In regression models, more advanced climacteric status was associated with higher frequency and difficulty level of low sexual desire and vaginal dryness (odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals: 2.80 [2.12-3.71], 3.22 [2.43-4.27], 3.83 [2.82-5.20], 3.75 [2.75-5.12], respectively), lower frequency of sexual thoughts (1.34 [1.02-1.75]), and higher frequency of problems with intercourse (2.35 [1.51-3.66]). Lower FAI and poorer health were associated with impaired sexual function.
The current study suggests that women experiencing menopausal transition in their mid-40s are at risk of impaired sexual function.
年龄增长和绝经过渡会增加性功能障碍的风险。绝经前年龄在 40 岁以下的女性中，性功能障碍很常见，而绝经年龄在 40 多岁中期的女性性功能方面的证据很少。我们旨在调查与绝经状态相关的 46 岁女性的性功能。
本研究是一项对北芬兰出生队列 1966 年（NFBC1966）前瞻性人群的 46 岁女性的性功能进行的横断面研究。NFBC1966 的 46 年随访研究包括广泛的问卷评估健康、生活方式和生活状况，以及月经史和性功能，以及血液采样分析，包括卵泡刺激素和游离雄激素指数（FAI）。参与者根据卵泡刺激素和月经史分为两组，定义为绝经状态。我们进行了逻辑回归模型，其中性功能参数是依赖因素，而绝经期状态、自我报告的健康状况、FAI、关系状况、吸烟和教育水平是独立变量。
研究人群包括 2661 名女性。在回归模型中，更先进的绝经期状态与更高的低性欲和阴道干燥的频率和难度水平相关（比值比及其 95%置信区间：2.80 [2.12-3.71]、3.22 [2.43-4.27]、3.83 [2.82-5.20]、3.75 [2.75-5.12]），性欲降低的频率更低（1.34 [1.02-1.75]），性交问题的频率更高（2.35 [1.51-3.66]）。较低的 FAI 和较差的健康状况与性功能障碍有关。
本研究表明，绝经过渡年龄在 40 多岁中期的女性存在性功能障碍的风险。
