Characteristics Associated with Sexual Dysfunctions Among Perimenopausal Women

Menopause is a normal physiological phenomenon in the midlife of women. However, beyond that it causes many bio-psychological changes which results in reduction of quality of life. Sexual dissatisfaction leads among these changes. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was done on 108 females above 36 years of age, who visited the gynecological clinic at Colombo South Teaching hospital. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Results Age of the study participants ranged from 38 to 83 years (Mean = 38.26 years: SD=13.58 years). Majority of the study participants had not observed any changes regarding their sexual desires (n=58:64.4%). Only 37.5% (n=12) had observed severe changes. Only 29.4 %( n=10) of the participants had observed severe changes in sexual satisfaction. 19.4 %( n=14) of the responded participants had experienced vaginal dryness during sexual activity. 13.8 %( n=10) of them had experienced severe sexual dryness during sexual activity. 24.5%(n=26) of the participants had experienced urinary incontinence during sexual activity. 46.15% of them had experienced severe incontinence. Majority of the participants who had observed changes in the sexual desire and satisfaction (N=24; 63.1%) had only received primary or secondary education. Conclusion Larger number of the study participants had experienced changes in their sexual desire during their perimenopausal age and the late menopausal age. Major changes of sexual desires are observed among middle aged women and age, social status and psychological factors affect these changes. Sexual satisfaction and activities commonly associate with the educational level of the study participants. The religion and ethnicity are not associated with sexual problems.