Prevalence and Sociodemographic Predictors of Sexual Problems in Portugal: A Population-Based Study With Women Aged 18 to 79 Years

Abstract

Studies on epidemiology of female sexual problems consistently indicate high prevalence rates worldwide, suggesting that this clinical presentation should be considered as a public health concern. However, there are no published studies on prevalence of sexual problems in Portugal. The present study investigated the prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of female sexual problems in a Portuguese community sample. In addition, the authors assessed the role of sociodemographic predictors of women's sexual difficulties. The authors recruited 500 women using quota methods to resemble the Portuguese population according to its demographic characteristics. Participants answered to the Female Sexual Function Index and to a sociodemographic questionnaire. Findings indicated that 37.9% of the Portuguese women reported symptoms of sexual problems. Symptoms of lack of sexual desire was the most frequent sexual difficulty with 25.4% of the women reporting low desire most times or always, followed by symptoms of orgasmic (16.8%), sexual arousal (15.1%), and lubrication difficulties (12.9%), dyspareunia (9.8%), and vaginismus (6.6%). Results indicated that age was a significant predictor of female sexual problems. Results also indicated that symptoms of female sexual problems are a significant health concern in Portugal, suggesting that public policies should be developed to promote sexual health.

Sexual Functioning in Spanish and Portuguese Young Adults: Initial Validation of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale

“…It might be that the context in which sex occurs for young adults sexual dysfunction can have a significant presence in younger adults. However, the percentage of participants reporting sexual difficulties in this study is lower than the percentage found previously in the general population and in other studies with adolescents and young adults (Farmer & Meston, 2007;Fisher & Boroditsky, 2000;Laumann et al, 1999;O´Sullivan et al, 2014;O´Sullivan & Majerovich, 2008;Peixoto & Nobre, 2015). This could be explained by the age difference between the general population and our sample.…”

“…Most of the research that exists has focused on only one area of sexual functioning, such as sexual satisfaction or sexual desire, and has examined some aspects other than its prevalence (Carrobles, Gámez-Guadix, & Almendros, 2011;Santos-Iglesias, Calvillo, & Sierra, 2013). Other studies have focused on the study of sexual functioning but have used samples from the general population without examining adolescents and young adults in particular (Casas Aranda et al, 2007;Gomes & Nobre, 2014;SEXUAL FUNCTIONING IN YOUNG ADULTS Martín-Morales et al, 2001;Peixoto & Nobre, 2015;Sierra, Vallejo-Medina, Santos-Iglesias, & Lameiras Fernández, 2012;Teles et al, 2008).…”

Sexuality in Older Adults (65+)—An Overview of the Literature, Part 1: Sexual Function and its Difficulties

“…Most studies have found a significant positive relationship between age and lubrication difficulties (Laumann et al, 2008;Peixoto & Nobre, 2015). In the Global Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors, involving a sample of 9,000 women aged 40-80 years across 29 countries, age showed a curvilinear relationship with the likelihood of lubrication difficulties in most, but not all, countries (Laumann, Nicolosi, Glasser, Paik, et al, 2005).…”

“…Although age is a significant predictor of most female sexual problems (Lutfey, Link, Rosen, Wiegel, et al, 2009;Peixoto & Nobre, 2015), some studies have reported either a ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 8 negative association (Ishak, Low, & Othman, 2010;Sidi, Puteh, Abdulla, & Midin, 2007) or a Ushaped relationship (Hendrickx, Gijs & Enzlin, 2015) between age and pain-related problems.…”

“…Ideally, such research would be cross-cultural, use quantitative and qualitative methods, and include both selfreport measures and clinical assessment of sexual problems. Future studies should not be restricted to heterosexuals but also explore the impact of aging on the expression of sexuality in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender populations (Peixoto & Nobre, 2015) and include women and men of different races and ethnicities (Laumann et al, 2006). Further, to advance our understanding of the intra-and inter-individual processes that play a key role in the etiology of sexual health over time, future research should study how sexual function and response change over the life course and how and for whom such changes are most likely to become a source of distress and/or a problem requiring treatment.…”