Sexual dysfunction in women with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The objective of this article is to conduct a literature review concerning female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in women with diabetes mellitus (DM). PubMed database was searched for FSD in DM to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2010 available in English. Female sexual dysfunction is known to occur in approximately 20 to 80% of diabetic women. Sexual function was evaluated by Female Sexual Function Index, a widely used, self-report measure that assesses sexual function across six domains, including sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain. It is relevant to specify the predictors of FSD in women with DM and it is proved that psychological factors are more important than the biological ones. Depression is the major predictor. The limitations, the directions of further research and clinical implications are presented as well.
Polish Sexology 2011; 9 (1): 22–26