Abstract:

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that causes sexual dysfunction. Aim: The aim of this descriptive study is to determine the frequency and factors affecting of sexual function in women with diabetes. Method: The study sample was comprised of 255 women between the ages of 18 to 55. The participants were not climacteric, were sexually active and had not had a surgery involving the reproductive system. The data were collected using a data collection form and the Female Sexual Function Index. Results: The frequency of sexual dysfunction was 69.0% in women. It was determined that having other health problems (95% CI=1.087–5.609, p=0.031) increased 2.47 times the risk of sexual dysfunction in women with diabetes. When the duration of diabetes increased, the arousal dysfunction risk of women also increased 1.19 times (95% CI=1.073–1.339, p=0.001). In addition, when duration of marriage increased, orgasmic dysfunction risk also increased 0.95 times (95% CI=0.909–0.993, p=0.024). However, there was no relation between age, duration of marriage, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c values of women and sexual desire, lubrication, satisfaction and pain domains (p>0.05). Conclusion: The most of the women have sexual dysfunction. When the domains of Female Sexual Function Index are examined, most of the women experience sexual dysfunction in the desire, arousal and pain domains. In addition, with increased duration of diabetes mellitus, arousal dysfunction risk increases, as does orgasm dysfunction risk with increased marriage duration. Having a health problem other than diabetes mellitus increase sexual dysfunction risk.

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