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Factors associated with sexual quality of life among midlife women in Serbia

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the two Community Health Centers in Belgrade (“Vracar” and “Rakovica”) for allowing us to conduct this study using their patients and facilities. Finally, we would like to thank all participants for taking interest in our study. We sincerely appreciate Prof. Wulf Utian, MD, PhD for allowing us to adapt and use the original versions of the Utian Quality of Life Scale.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26A, Belgrade, Serbia

    Tatjana Gazibara

  2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 8, Belgrade, Serbia

    Selmina Nurkovic, Nikolina Kovacevic, Ilma Kurtagic, Biljana Rancic, Sanja Radovanovic, Milan Terzic & Jelena Dotlic

  3. Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Visegradska 26, Belgrade, Serbia

    Branislav Milosevic, Milan Terzic & Jelena Dotlic

Authors
  1. Tatjana Gazibara
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  2. Selmina Nurkovic
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  3. Nikolina Kovacevic
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  4. Ilma Kurtagic
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  5. Biljana Rancic
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  6. Sanja Radovanovic
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  7. Branislav Milosevic
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  8. Milan Terzic
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  9. Jelena Dotlic
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Correspondence to Jelena Dotlic.

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Gazibara, T., Nurkovic, S., Kovacevic, N. et al. Factors associated with sexual quality of life among midlife women in Serbia. Qual Life Res 26, 2793–2804 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-017-1608-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-017-1608-3

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