The sexual dysfunction in females with type 1 diabetes: Still an underestimated issue?

Abstract

Sexuality is a significant part of female life and is under the impact of various life events, factors related to reproduction, relationships and socio-cultural specifics, but is also affected by different chronic medical conditions and related treatments. Physiologically, women`s sexual functioning consists of desire, arousal, plateau, orgasm and resolution. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a highly prevalent, age-related and progressive problem. It has multiple causes and dimensions including biological, psychological and interpersonal elements. Several disorders, encompassing issues with sexual desire and arousal, orgasm malfunctioning and sexual pain, can be differentiated within the FSD entity. Diabetes is considered to be a major cause of the impaired sexual function. Although women with diabetes have even frequency of cardiovascular and neurological complications as males, FSD has been paid rather less attention in research than the sexual dysfunction in men with diabetes, particularly exclusive in females with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Usually, FSD is more related to the psychosocial issues, especially depression, than to cardiovascular, metabolic and other traditional risk factors, which are more characteristic for men. The sexual difficulties among T1DM women require much more attention. Their regular annual in-depth evaluation should routinely include queries regarding the presence of depressive symptoms and their sexual functioning.

Health Literacy and Quality of Life in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Bad sex life in men can be explained by erectile dysfunction as a result of poorly controlled DM [23,24]. Vascular complications of DM in women can lead to loss of libido [25]. Therefore, the relationship between HL and complications seems to affect QoL indirectly.…”

Determinants of adherence to insulin and blood glucose monitoring among adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes in Qatar: a qualitative study

“…The findings from this study can serve to design an educational program in which these psychosocial determinants can be addressed in a patient-centered approach. The strengths of this research are that, firstly, the face-to-face semi-structured approach with a researcher who did not have a relationship before and after the work helped AYAs communicate openly about sensitive issues such as SD, which would be generally difficult to address, 133 particularly since it is influenced by different tribal and social attitudes in the Arab region. 134 Secondly, while a sample of 12 interviews demonstrated achieving saturation previously with a similar study nature and analytical approach, [135][136][137] we examined the depth and richness of collected information using a saturation grid, 138 and interviewing continued until saturation was deemed achieved with a sample of 20 interviews.…”

Determinants of adherence to insulin and blood glucose monitoring among adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes in Qatar: a qualitative study

“…The findings from this study can serve to design an educational program in which these psychosocial determinants can be addressed in a patient-centered approach. The strengths of this research are that, firstly, the face-to-face semi-structured approach with a researcher who did not have a relationship before and after the work helped AYAs communicate openly about sensitive issues such as SD, which would be generally difficult to address, 133 particularly since it is influenced by different tribal and social attitudes in the Arab region. 134 Secondly, while a sample of 12 interviews demonstrated achieving saturation previously with a similar study nature and analytical approach, [135][136][137] we examined the depth and richness of collected information using a saturation grid, 138 and interviewing continued until saturation was deemed achieved with a sample of 20 interviews.…”