Investigating the Relationships Between Obesity and Sexual Function and Its Components

Abstract

Background: Proper sexual function is an important factor that affects family strength. Recently, the issue of obesity and the influence of body mass index (BMI) on sexual function have received increasing research attention. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sexual function and its domains with obesity and central obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 514 women aged 15 - 45 years who presented at Shiraz healthcare centers in 2014 - 2015. Simple random sampling was performed. Data were collected by applying the female sexual function index (FSFI), weight, and meter. The questionnaire consisted of 19 questions that evaluated six domains, as follows: sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Scores < 28 on the questionnaire were considered to represent sexual dysfunction. The results were analyzed using the t-test, Fisher test, Chi-square test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 30.9 ± 5.8 years. The mean score for BMI in people with sexual dysfunction was 25.5 ± 4.09, which was not statistically significantly different from those without sexual dysfunction. The mean score of central obesity was 0.75 ± 0.12 in people with sexual dysfunction; this was not statistically significant in comparison to those without sexual dysfunction. Among the female sexual function domains, only sexual desire (P = 0.05) and arousal (P = 0.02) had a significant correlation with BMI. There were significant relationships between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and sexual arousal (P = 0.04) and satisfaction (P = 0.02). Conclusions: The only significant relationships were found between sexual desire and arousal and BMI and between central obesity and sexual arousal and satisfaction.