Female Sexual Dysfunction in the Late Postpartum Period Among Women with Previous Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

• Published in: Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 203 - 208
• Main Authors: Sargin, Mehmet Akif, Yassa, Murat, Taymur, Bilge Dogan, Taymur, Bulent, Akca, Gizem, Tug, Niyazi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pakistan College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety - diagnosis; Anxiety - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - psychology; Diabetes, Gestational - physiopathology; Female; Gestational diabetes; Health aspects; Humans; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnant women; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk factors; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual disorders; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - etiology; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - physiopathology; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - etiology; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - physiopathology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1022-386X; 1681-7168

To compare the status of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) between women with a history of previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and those with follow-up of a healthy pregnancy, using the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire. Cross-sectional study. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, from September to December 2015. Healthy sexually active adult parous females were included. Participants were asked to complete the validated Turkish versions of the FSFI and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. Student's t-test was used for two-group comparisons of normally distributed variables and quantitative data. Mann-Whitney U-test was used for two-group comparisons of non-normally distributed variables. Pearson's chi-squared test, the Fisher-FreemanHalton test, Fisher's exact test, and Yates' continuity correction test were used for comparison of qualitative data. The mean FSFI scores of the 179 participants was 23.50 ±3.94. FSFI scores and scores of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain were not statistically significantly different (p>0.05), according to a history of GDM and types of FSD (none, mild, severe). HADS scores and anxiety and depression types did not statistically significantly differ according to the history of GDM (p>0.05). An association could not be found in FSFI scores between participants with both the history of previous GDM and with healthy pregnancy; subclinical sexual dysfunction may be observed in the late postpartum period among women with a history of previous GDM. This may adversely affect their sexual health.