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Cited by 210Sexual function and dysfunction studiesSexuality, Behavior, and TechnologySex work and related issues

Sexual dysfunction among middle-aged women in the community

Open access
Osborn, M., Hawton, K., Gath, D.·1988·BMJ
DOI 10.1136/bmj.296.6627.959PMC PMC2545434
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Abstract

In a community survey of women aged 35-59 sexual functioning was studied in the 436 women with partners. One third of these women had operationally defined sexual dysfunction: impaired sexual interest was identified in 17% of women (68/406), vaginal dryness in 17% (73/434), infrequency of orgasm in 16% (60/379), and dyspareunia in 8% (30/379). Sexual dysfunctions were statistically significantly associated with increasing age and also with psychiatric disorder, neuroticism, and marital disharmony. One in 10 women regarded themselves as having a sexual problem. These women were no older than women with sexual dysfunction who did not regard themselves as having a sexual problem. Nevertheless, they differed from the rest of the sample in having more psychiatric disorder, neuroticism, marital disharmony, and (in women still menstruating) psychological symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome. In the whole sample 16 women (4%) said that they would like help for a sexual problem. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in this series of women suggests that general practitioners should increase their alertness to the problem in their patients.

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  • The prevalence of low level of sexual interest varies from 17% in 35- to 59-year-old women in the United Kingdom through 33% to 35% in 18- to 59-year-old women in the United States, 18- to 74-year-old women in Sweden, and 20- to 60-year-old women in Iran, and up to 55% in Australia in women 16 to 59 years old.

    “Using different methods and scaling, descriptive epidemiologic investigations found that the prevalence of low level of sexual interest varies from 17% in 35- to 59-year-old women in the United Kingdom 15 through 33% to 35% (18 e 59 years old in United States, 18 e 74 years old in Sweden, 20 e 60 years old in Iran) 16 e 18 and up to 55% in Australia in women 16 to 59 years old.”

    From Incidence and Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Women and Men: A Consensus Statement from the Fourth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine 2015 (2016) · cites this paper as [15]

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Kinsey AC, Pomeroy WB, Gebhard PH. Sexual behaviour in the human female. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1953.
  2. Eysenck HJ, Eysenck SBG. Manual of the Eysenck personality inventory. London: University of London Press, 1964.

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Authors
Osborn, M., Hawton, K., & Gath, D.
Affiliations
  • Warneford Hospital (GB)
  • University of Cape Town (ZA)
Venue
BMJ
Publisher
BMJ
Published
1988-04-02
Volume
296
Issue
6627
Pages
959-962
ISSN
  • 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
  • 0959-8138
  • 1468-5833
DOI
10.1136/bmj.296.6627.959
PMC
PMC2545434
OpenAlex
W2086122861
Cited by
210
References
18
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
FWCI
3.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMJ (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Sex work and related issues
Keywords
sexual dysfunction, middle-aged women, vaginal dryness, orgasm frequency, dyspareunia, premenstrual syndrome, neuroticism, marital conflict, mental illness, general practitioners
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Dyspareunia, England, Female, Humans, Marriage, Middle Aged, Orgasm, Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological, Vaginal Diseases

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