Sexual Arousal Problem Among Malaysian Women in a Primary Care Setting

To investigate the prevalence of sexual arousal disorder and the potential risk factors that may impair sexual arousal among women at a primary care setting in Malaysia. METHODS: A validated questionnaire for sexual function was used to assess sexual arousal. A total of 230 married women aged 18 - 70 years old participated in this study. Their sociodemographic and marital profiles were compared between those who had sexual arousal problem and those who did not; the risk factors for sexual arousal problem were determined. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents were less than 50 years old, predominantly Malays with higher academic achievement. The prevalence of sexual arousal disorder in the primary care population was 60.9%. CONCLUSION: Women with sexual arousal disorder were found to be significantly higher in the groups of: age 45 years old and above; married more than 14 years; having more than 3 children; from lower academic group; having husbands aged > 55 years; having less sexual intercourse (less than 1 - 2 times a week); and at post-menopausal state. Low intercourse frequencies reduce arousal level, OR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.64-0.47 and less number of children will increase chance of arousal 2.5 times (OR=2.51, 95% CI: 1.17-5.36.