Sexual dysfunction and related distress in the late postmenopause: results from an Australian study

Objectives: The understanding of sexual wellbeing amongst older women is limited, and normative data are lacking. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of low sexual desire and its association with personal distress, and in turn the presence of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), amongst sexually active and inactive older Australian women. 24 15TH WORLD CONGRESS ON MENOPAUSE Methods: 1548 Australian women, aged 65 to 79 years, living independently in the community were recruited to this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire, completed between April and August 2014, assessed socio-demographic and health factors. Sexual function and sexual distress were assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R), respectively. HSDD was defined as the presence of both low sexual desire (FSFI desire domain score of <¼5) and sexual distress (FSDS-R score >¼11). Results: The mean ± SD age of the 1321 women who provided sexual function data was 71 ± 3.4 years. 56.3% were partnered and 42.9% reported being sexually active in the last month (48.0% of those partnered and 24.3% of those un-partnered). 1183 women (89.6%; 95% CI 16.2–20.3%) had low sexual desire and 18.2% (95% CI 16.2–20.3%) had sexual distress, resulting in a 15.9% (95% CI 14.0–18.0%) prevalence of HSDD. HSDD was significantly more common among partnered than non-partnered women (23.7% vs 5.9%; p<0.001) and among sexually active than sexually inactive women (31.5% vs 17.2%; p<0.001). Furthermore, 32% of partnered sexually active women had HSDD, as did 22% of un-partnered sexually active women. Conclusions: HSDD is common amongst sexually active older Australian women. It should not be assumed that older un-partnered women are not sexually active or do not have HSDD.