Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Female Sexual Function Index and Female Behavioral Changes: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study in Thailand

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 19; no. 23; p. 15565
• Main Authors: Narkkul, Udomsak, Jiet Ng, Jun, Saraluck, Apisith
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 23.11.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Age; Anxiety; Body mass; Body mass index; Body size; Consent; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease transmission; Earthquakes; Epidemics; Female; Females; Health services; Humans; Infections; Likert scale; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Multivariate analysis; Orgasm; Pandemics; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Reproductive health; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sexual Behavior; Sexual health; Social networks; Statistical analysis; Variables; Womens health; Thailand; United States > US; COVID-19 pandemic; female sexual function index; female behavioral changes; Thailand
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315565

Sexual health alterations are associated with disasters. Consequently, the COVID-19 pandemic may affect female sexual function. This study aimed to determine the COVID-19 pandemic effect on female sexual function and to know the risk of female sexual dysfunction. This online, cross-sectional, observational research was conducted during the pandemic period. A logistic regression model was used to investigate the associations between outcomes and potential risk factors. In total, 432 sexually active women participating in the region affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed. The overall findings of our study are that 60 percent of females were at risk for female sexual dysfunction. The average FSFI score was 21.27 ± 7.17. Comparing female sexual behavior before and during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals a significant decrease in the frequency of having sex per week, foreplay duration, and coital duration. In the multivariate analysis, the factors associated with the development of RFSD are age greater than 45 years (adjusted odds ratios (AOR) 15.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.67-62.07), body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 (AOR 3.26, 95%CI 1.23-8.67), jobs as a healthcare provider (AOR 8.45, 95%CI 3.66-19.53), previous COVID-19 infection within the previous three months (AOR 36.81, 95%CI 10.93-123.98), and screened-positive anxiety (AOR 13.07, 95%CI 4.75-35.94). COVID-19 influences female sexual behavior and may increase the risk of sexual dysfunction in women. Concern for the effects of female sexual quality of life in high-risk individuals is essential.