Sexual Function and Correlates in Women Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis in Cameroon: A Multi-centric Study

Abstract

Purpose of The Study:The aim of this study was to describe sexual function disorders and investigate associated factors in women on maintenance hemodialysis in Cameroon. Methods:This was a cross-sectional study of three months duration (August-October 2014) in adult women on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) at three HD facilities in Cameroon. Patients with active psychiatric disease, infection or uncontrolled congestive heart failure were excluded. We use the Rosen questionnaire for evaluating female sexual function (FSFI), the Beck depression Inventory (BDI) and the short form (SF-36) of WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life (QOL). Logistic regressions were used to investigate the predictors of sexual function disorders. Results:We included 52 women with the mean age of 38±13 years (min-max: 18-69), with 31 (62%) being of child-bearing age (18-44 years). All participants had at least one sexual function abnormality including sexual dysfunction (75%), abnormalities of the menstrual cycle (83%), and sexual inactivity (30%). In women of child-bearing age, reported menstrual disorders were: irregular menses (45%), non-gravid amenorrhea (40%), oligo-menorrhea (25%), poly-menorrhea (25%), metrorrhagia (6%), and menorrhagia (3%). Ten of the 31 women had more than one menstrual disorder. Sexual dysfunction included: decreased sexual desire (56%), decreased sexual arousal (39%), decreased vaginal lubrication (49%), and failure to achieve orgasm (46%), sexual dissatisfaction (51%), and dyspareunia (36%). Advanced age (p = 0.0046), depression (p<0.0001), anemia (p=0.0005) and poor quality of life were negatively associated with sexual dysfunction. Sexual inactivity (p = 0.035) was equally associated with poor quality of life. Conclusion:Our results suggest that disorders of sexual function are common in women on maintenance hemodialysis, and are associated with depression, poor quality of life, advanced age, and anemia.

Sexual Dysfunction and Associated Anxiety and Depression in Female Hemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study at Karachi Institute of Kidney Diseases

“…Sexual dysfunction is multi-faceted and includes increasing age, menopausal status, depression, and comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension as its major predictors. Literature also shows a discrepancy in the relationship between older age and depression with sexual functioning [ 17 , 18 ]. In particular, the results of this study manifested that age had a significant negative correlation with sexual desire, but not with arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, or pain.…”

Nursing guidelines to improve sexual function and quality of life among women undergoing hemodialysis

“…These disorders were positively correlated with personal medical histories, including data about nephropathy, duration of hemodialysis greater than or equal to one year, depression, anxiety, and effects on quality of life. This is supported by a study by Teuwafeu et al (2016), who reported that all women with maintenance hemodialysis have at least one sexual function abnormality, including sexual dysfunction and sexual inactivity. Sexual dysfunction included: decreased sexual desire, decreased sexual arousal, decreased vaginal lubrication, and failure to achieve orgasm.…”

“…According to the present study findings, for the majority of women in the sample, more than half of their menstrual cycles were irregular, a finding supported by the study of Abozead et al (2018), which reported that the majority of female patients with hemodialysis were still menstruating. With respect to this, the study by Teuwafeu et al (2016) on Sexual function and correlates in women undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in Cameroon showed that women of child-bearing age reported menstrual disorders such as irregular menses, amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, poly-menorrhea, metrorrhagia, and menorrhagia. Conversely, Basok et al (2009) found that more than half of women with hemodialysis had gone through menopause.…”

“…Individuals on HD maintenance usually experience depression, pain, itching, poor sleep, and fatigue. Sexual dysfunction can also lead to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) symptoms burden (Teuwafeu et al, 2016). Hemodialysis has a significant physical and psychosocial impact on patients.…”

The relationship between iron deficiency anemia and sexual function and satisfaction among reproductive-aged Iranian women

“…We could not find any study that evaluates the relationship of blood indices in IDA and sexual function. However, Teuwafeu et al, in their study on women who underwent maintenance hemodialysis found that there is a significant relationship between anemia and sexual function [38].…”