Non-pharmacological interventions to promote sexual function in women with Type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Sexual dysfunction is known as one of the chronic complications of Type 2 diabetes, having its own negative effects on marital relationships as well as quality of life. Thus, the main objective of the present study is to review nonpharmacological interventions to promote sexual function in women affected with Type 2 diabetes. This review was conducted on the studies published within early 1990–2019. The search was performed using the available databases including Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, Magiran, Barakat, and SID. The keywords used include Diabetes, Lifestyle, and Sexual function. A total of 675 articles were obtained based on the inclusion criteria; however, eight articles were found to be completely relevant to the topic of interest. The main results were divided into two main categories: Category I: lifestyle modifications (two articles) and Category II: training/counseling intervention programs (six articles). Moreover, the research instrument utilized in all studies was the Female Sexual Function Index. The results of the selected articles further revealed that lifestyle modifications and training/counseling intervention programs were effective in promoting sexual function among women with Type 2 diabetes. However, the retrieved documents were not adequate to reach a definitive conclusion. Therefore, further interventional studies using different types of counseling methods and lifestyle modifications are suggested to promote sexual function in women with Type 2 diabetes.