Sexual function, menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Objective: To assess the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with and without hormone replacement therapy (HRT). To determine the relationship between menopause and sexual activity, and the impact of HRT on sexual function. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 231 Colombian-born women, aged 40-62 years. Sexual function was measured by self-questionnaire. The analysis was performed by using the chi(2)-test and multivariate regression analysis. The sexual function was divided in five domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and pain; in addition, questioning about sexual satisfaction was included in the research. Results: In the study 38.1% of women showed sexual dysfunction in the desire, and 25% in the arousal, these two being the most affected domains. Even though menopause marginally decreases all stages of sexual function, this association was statistically significant only for the lubrication and pain domains. HRT improves sexual function in the orgasm, lubrication and pain domains in a statistically significant manner. The level of sexual satisfaction was better on postmenopausal women with HRT than ones without HRT. Age negatively influences almost all sexual function domains in a significant manner. Conclusions: Menopause affects in a negative manner some domains of female sexual function. HRT improves some factors of the sexual function during menopause but it not improves desire and arousal which were the most affected domains. There is a negative association between age and female sexual response in middle-aged women. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.