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Female sexual dysfunction in Iran: study of prevalence and risk factors

  • General Gynecology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the prevalence of and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction (FSD) among women in Birjand city, Iran.

Methods

This cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted in nine areas of Birjand, the provincial center of South Khorasan province and married women aged between 15 and 72 years were included. Data were collected by face-to-face interview and completing a self-administered questionnaire. FSD and related risk factors were assessed.

Results

A total of 821 women with mean age of 31.5 ± 9.1 were studied. Of them, 694 (84.6 %) had active sexual relationship with their husband, 239 (29.1 %) had less than one intercourse per week, 320 (39 %) did not feel pleasure with their sexual activity and intercourse, 86 (10.5 %) had never attained an orgasm, 604 (73.6 %) had a highly satisfactory relationship with their husband.

Conclusions

Dissatisfaction and not feeling pleasure with sexual activity was the most common FSD in our study. Further epidemiologic investigation is clearly warranted.

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Acknowledgments

Authors would like to thank Dr. Kavian Ghandehri, Associate Professor of Neurology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, for reviewing the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Birjand University of Medical University, Birjand, Iran

    Nahid Ghanbarzadeh

  2. Department of Urology, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

    Mohammad Nadjafi-Semnani

  3. Emergency Department of Qaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Mohammad-Reza Ghanbarzadeh

  4. Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ali Nadjfai-Semnani & Fatemeh Nadjfai-Semnani

  5. No. 154-Artesh Street, P.O. Box: 497, 9717896451, Birjand, Iran

    Mohammad Nadjafi-Semnani

Authors
  1. Nahid Ghanbarzadeh
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  2. Mohammad Nadjafi-Semnani
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  3. Mohammad-Reza Ghanbarzadeh
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  4. Ali Nadjfai-Semnani
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  5. Fatemeh Nadjfai-Semnani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Nadjafi-Semnani.

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Ghanbarzadeh, N., Nadjafi-Semnani, M., Ghanbarzadeh, MR. et al. Female sexual dysfunction in Iran: study of prevalence and risk factors. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 533–539 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2604-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2604-z

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