TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with sexual quality of life among midlife women in Serbia
AU - Gazibara, Tatjana
AU - Nurkovic, Selmina
AU - Kovacevic, Nikolina
AU - Kurtagic, Ilma
AU - Rancic, Biljana
AU - Radovanovic, Sanja
AU - Milosevic, Branislav
AU - Terzic, Milan
AU - Dotlic, Jelena
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - Purpose: To assess factors associated with better sexual quality of life (QOL) in midlife period among women who are and are not sexually active. Methods: Participants were 500 women aged 40–65 years from Belgrade, Serbia. Data were collected through general questionnaire (regarding socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, general medical, and gynecological history) in which one item investigated having partnered sexual activity (heterosexual intercourses). The sexual domain of the Utian Quality of Life Scale was used to assess the sexual QOL. The sexual QOL consisted of reflections on the satisfaction with frequency of sexual interactions, as well as sexual and romantic life in general. Higher scores indicated better sexual QOL. Results: Most women were sexually active in midlife (81.6%). The mean sexual QOL score for the overall sample was 9.99 (range 3–15). The level of sexual QOL did not differ between sexually active and non-active women. Factors associated with better sexual QOL in sexually active menopausal women were being married or coupled, being physically active, having more children, having hot flushes, and not having tachycardia. Factors associated with better sexual QOL in sexually inactive menopausal women were drinking alcohol, being physically active, not having insomnia or skin rash. Conclusions: Sexual QOL among Serbian urban midlife women was good and did not differ between women who were sexually active and those who were not. Further studies are needed to determine in what manner women who are not sexually active in midlife achieve high level of satisfaction with their sexual QOL.
AB - Purpose: To assess factors associated with better sexual quality of life (QOL) in midlife period among women who are and are not sexually active. Methods: Participants were 500 women aged 40–65 years from Belgrade, Serbia. Data were collected through general questionnaire (regarding socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, general medical, and gynecological history) in which one item investigated having partnered sexual activity (heterosexual intercourses). The sexual domain of the Utian Quality of Life Scale was used to assess the sexual QOL. The sexual QOL consisted of reflections on the satisfaction with frequency of sexual interactions, as well as sexual and romantic life in general. Higher scores indicated better sexual QOL. Results: Most women were sexually active in midlife (81.6%). The mean sexual QOL score for the overall sample was 9.99 (range 3–15). The level of sexual QOL did not differ between sexually active and non-active women. Factors associated with better sexual QOL in sexually active menopausal women were being married or coupled, being physically active, having more children, having hot flushes, and not having tachycardia. Factors associated with better sexual QOL in sexually inactive menopausal women were drinking alcohol, being physically active, not having insomnia or skin rash. Conclusions: Sexual QOL among Serbian urban midlife women was good and did not differ between women who were sexually active and those who were not. Further studies are needed to determine in what manner women who are not sexually active in midlife achieve high level of satisfaction with their sexual QOL.
KW - Menopause
KW - Midlife women
KW - Quality of life
KW - Sexual activity
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U2 - 10.1007/s11136-017-1608-3
DO - 10.1007/s11136-017-1608-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 28580495
AN - SCOPUS:85020101300
VL - 26
SP - 2793
EP - 2804
JO - Quality of Life Research
JF - Quality of Life Research
SN - 0962-9343
IS - 10
ER -