Profile of female patients at a sexology ambulatory in the brazilian public health system

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual problems are fairly common, and sexuality is an important parameter of health and quality of life. However, only a few centers in Brazil have ambulatories specialized in sexual dysfunction. This study was conducted in a service that is a state reference for these pathologies. Methods: This study was conducted at the human sexuality ambulatory of a large public hospital in southern Brazil. It was a cross-sectional descriptive study with women attending at the first medical visit to the ambulatory of human sexuality in a period of four years. Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires with both qualitative and quantitative questions were applied in all first medical visits to the ambulatory. Results: The 153 women attending had a mean age of 40.9 (±12.9) years. The most frequent complaint was “lack of desire” (56.8%), followed by pain in intercourse (25.4%) and lack of pleasure or inability to achieve orgasm (12.4%). The prevalence of sexual dysfunction (FSFI cut-off score < 26.5) was 74.5%. The patient’s age, the age of the partner, and the length of the relationship with the partner had a significant correlation with a lower FSFI score. There was an inverse correlation between the length of the relationship and the FSFI score. The self-attributed score for satisfaction with sexual life had a significant correlation with the FSFI total score (r = 0.708, p < 0.01). Conclusion: We conclude that women who seek care in sexuality are in the perimenopausal period and that factors such as the number of children, age of menopause and length of the relationship have a negative influence on sexuality. The score for the self-assessment of sexuality could serve as an initial screening for sexual dysfunction, since it is quick and easy to apply in routine medical visits. However, more studies are required to compare the FSFI and this score.