Physical activity and sexual function in middle-aged women

A cross-sectional study with a sample of 370 middle-aged women (40-65 years old), treated at public health care facilities in a Brazilian city. A questionnaire was used containing enquiries on sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short form, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

Results

The average age of the women studied was 49.8 years (± 8.1), 67% of whom exhibited sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤ 26.55). Sedentary women had a higher prevalence (78.9%) of sexual dysfunction when compared to active (57.6%) and moderately active (66.7%) females (p = 0.002). Physically active women obtained higher score in all FSFI domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain) and total FSFI score (20.9), indicating better sexual function than their moderately active (18.8) and sedentary (15.6) counterparts (p <0.05).

Conclusion

Physical activity appears to influence sexual function positively in middle-aged women.

physical activity; sexuality; women; middle aged; menopause

Associação Médica Brasileira R. São Carlos do Pinhal, 324, 01333-903 São Paulo SP - Brazil, Tel: +55 11 3178-6800, Fax: +55 11 3178-6816 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
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Variables	Physical activity levels (IPAQ)
Active N (%)	Moderately active N (%)	Sedentary N (%)	Total N (%)
Age group
40 – 45	44	39.3	39	34.8	29	25.9	112	30.3
46 – 55	34	32.4	40	38.1	31	29.5	153	41.3
56 – 65	54	35.3	50	32.7	49	32.0	105	28.4
Race
Caucasian	102	37.9	96	35.7	71	26.4	269	72.7
Non-Caucasian	30	29.7	33	32.7	38	37.6	101	27.3
Marital Status
Married	87	38.2	79	34.7	62	27.1	228	61.6
Divorced/Separated	23	28.4	29	35.8	29	35.8	81	21.9
Single	22	36.1	21	34.4	18	29.5	61	16.5
Education
Elementary	28	25.7	41	37.6	40	36.7	109	29.5
Secondary	67	37.9	60	33.9	50	28.3	117	47.8
University	37	44.1	28	33.3	19	22.6	84	22.7
Body Mass Index
Normal weight	57	37.5	55	36.2	40	26.3	149	40.3
Overweight	54	38.0	48	33.8	40	28.2	142	39.1
Obese	21	26.6	26	34.2	29	38.2	76	20.6
Smoking
Positive	5	20.8	11	45.8	8	33.3	24	6.5
Negative	127	36.7	118	34.1	101	29.2	346	93.5
Menopause
Positive	55	32.7	64	38.1	49	29.2	168	45.5
Negative	77	38.1	65	32.2	60	29.7	202	54.5
Hysterectomy
Positive	18	28.6	27	42.9	18	28.6	63	17.0
Negative	114	37.1	102	33.2	91	29.6	307	83.0

Physical activity levels (IPAQ)	Sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤ 26.55)	Total
Positive	Negative
	N (%)	N (%)	N (%)
Active	76 (57.6)	56 (42.4)	132 (35.7)
Moderately active	86 (66.7)	43 (33.3)	129 (34.9)
Sedentary	86 (78.9)	23 (21.1)	109 (29.4)
Total	243 (67.0)	122 (33.0)	370 (100.0)

Physical activity levels (IPAQ)
FSFI Domains	Active Mean (SD)	Moderately Active Mean (SD)	Sedentary Mean (SD)	P-value^* * ANOVA Test; 5% significance level. SD= standard deviation. Means that do not share a letter are significantly different.
Desire	3.4^a (1.4)	3.2^ab (1.2)	3.0^b (1.3)	0.047
Arousal	3.1^a (2.0)	2.8^a (2.0)	2.1^b (1.9)	0.001
Lubrication	3.4^a (2.2)	3.2^ab (2.3)	2.6^b (2.3)	0.012
Orgasm	3.5^a (2.2)	3.2^a (2.2)	2.5^b (2.2)	0.002
Satisfaction	4.0^a (2.0)	3.4^ab (2.1)	2.9^b (2.2)	0.001
Pain	3.6^a (2.4)	3.1^ab (2.3)	2.6^b (2.4)	0.004
Total FSFI	20.9^a (11.2)	18.8^ab (11.1)	15.6^b (11.0)	0.001