Female sexual dysfunction, which includes issues like low desire, arousal problems, orgasmic dysfunction, and pain during sex, affects up to 40% of women but often goes untreated. Factors like age and pelvic health significantly impact sexual function.

The authors of a new study hypothesized that age affects the scores of a urinary incontinence/sexual function questionnaire, so they aimed to establish age-specific reference scores from the general Dutch population. This study could help clinicians understand what is typical for different age groups, aiding in better diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction in women of varying ages.

This study was conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands in 2020. Data were collected digitally from a representative sample of Dutch-speaking adults aged 18 and older, and the researchers made sure to have diversity in the participants’ education, work status, location, and age to reflect the country’s population. The study excluded individuals with illogical or missing responses, ensuring data quality.

Participants completed two questionnaires: the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12), which assesses sexual function across behavioral-emotive, physical, and partner-related domains, and the Defecation and Fecal Continence (DeFeC) questionnaire for additional demographic and medical history data. The PISQ-12 helps assess these issues over the past 6 months, considering physical and relational factors. Statistical analyses were then used to create age-specific PISQ-12 reference scores.

The results aimed to provide clinicians with clear benchmarks for interpreting PISQ-12 scores across different age groups. This approach can help in understanding and addressing sexual dysfunction more effectively among women in the general Dutch population.

In the study results, researchers found that sexual activity among Dutch women varied significantly with age. About 63% of women were sexually active, with the highest activity seen in the 35-46 age group and declining in older age groups. Non-sexually active women (37%) were more likely to be obese, retired, and have lower education levels compared to sexually active women. Urinary incontinence was more prevalent among non-sexually active women, while constipation was more common among sexually active women.

Among sexually active women, satisfaction with sexual function was high at 85.2%. However, younger women had mixed reports regarding sexual functioning when compared to older women. For instance, younger women experienced more sexual desire and excitement but also more pain during sex compared to older women. Older women reported fewer negative emotional reactions in this context even though they had lower scores for partner-related issues like erectile problems and satisfaction with orgasm perception.

Despite strengths like a large, diverse sample and comprehensive data collection, this study acknowledges limitations. For instance, it focused on heterosexual women and didn’t explore reasons for sexual inactivity thoroughly. Nevertheless, these findings highlight age-related differences in sexual function among Dutch women, providing valuable insights for healthcare professionals in assessing and managing sexual health across different age groups.

References:

• Hierink, G. M., Brinkman, L. A. M., Hogenhout, S. A., Malmberg, G. G. A., Trzpis, M., van Eijndhoven, H. W. F., Broens, P. M. A. (2024). Age-specific reference scores for the PISQ-12 on female sexual functioning in the Netherlands: a retrospective population-based survey. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 21(7), 620-626. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae051