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Is Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Diabetes Control and Related Factors in Women with Diabetes?

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Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the sexual dysfunction (SD) in women with diabetes and to correlate SD with the factors related to diabetes and its control. The study was conducted in 310 non-pregnant women with diabetes, 19 years and over. Socio-demographic characteristics and other factors related to diabetes were evaluated using Participant Information Form. The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale was used to evaluate sexual function. Rate of SD was found as 46.7%. SD was frequent in sexual desire(36.8%), satisfaction from orgasm(25.5%) and orgasm(24.8%). Type of diabetes and treatment, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, BMI were not associated with SD (P > 0.05). SD increased with age, HbA1c, high number of diabetic complications and poor education (P < 0.05). An one unit increase in HbA1c value caused 19.1% of dysfunction increase on sexual dysfunction, 23.2% on drive, 20.7% on satisfaction from orgasm and 17.5% on orgasm(P < 0.05). Increasing HbA1c, number of diabetic complications and low literacy should be considered as risk factors of SD and evaluated in routine clinical care of women with diabetes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was presented in “68th Scientific Session of American Diabetes Association” Meeting and supported by Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University. Project number: 809.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Nursing, Florence Nightingale Nursing Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Seyda Ozcan

  2. Department of Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing, Florence Nightingale Nursing Faculty, Istanbul University, 80270, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey

    Nevin Hotun Sahin & Dilek Bilgic

  3. Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Sema Dereli Yilmaz

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  1. Seyda Ozcan
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  2. Nevin Hotun Sahin
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  3. Dilek Bilgic
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  4. Sema Dereli Yilmaz
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Correspondence to Nevin Hotun Sahin.

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Ozcan, S., Sahin, N.H., Bilgic, D. et al. Is Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Diabetes Control and Related Factors in Women with Diabetes?. Sex Disabil 29, 251–261 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-011-9209-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-011-9209-5

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