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Di Nardo M, Conti C, Di Francesco G, Nicolardi G, Guagnano MT, Porcelli P. What is the "weight" of body mass index on sexual functioning in women? A mediation model. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26:1801-1811. [PMID: 32920775 PMCID: PMC8292239 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-020-00995-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE It is well known that body mass index (BMI) affects how individuals perceive their well-being and that obese individuals tend to report poorer levels of subjective health status. The aim of this study was to compare subjects with and without FSD and to examine the direct and indirect impact of BMI on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in overweight/obese and normal-weight women. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on 186 overweight/obese and 233 normal-weight women. FSD assessed with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was investigated in relation to body satisfaction assessed with the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT-A) and self-esteem assessed with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (RSE). RESULTS No difference in the prevalence of FSD was found between overweight/obese (44.4%) and normal-weight women (55.6%), even though significant between-group differences in body image were found. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) showed that BMI contribute to FSD only through the mediating role of body dissatisfaction and self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS The present results support the notion that sexual functioning is not related directly to BMI in women but to a more complex interactions of body weight, satisfaction with one's own body image, and levels of self-esteem. Clinicians should take into account that for women having a good sexual life seems not related to body weight but to the way their body weight is perceived within the context of self-image. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, case-control analytic study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Di Nardo
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Chiara Conti
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
| | - Giulia Di Francesco
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giulia Nicolardi
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Guagnano
- Department of Medicine and Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Piero Porcelli
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
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Loy SL, Ku CW, Cheung YB, Godfrey KM, Chong YS, Shek LPC, Tan KH, Yap FKP, Bernard JY, Chen H, Chan SY, Tan TY, Chan JKY. Fecundability in reproductive aged women at risk of sexual dysfunction and associated risk factors: a prospective preconception cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:444. [PMID: 34172036 PMCID: PMC8228958 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03892-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a prevalent problem, affecting up to 41% of reproductive aged women worldwide. However, the association between female sexual function (FSF) and fecundability in women attempting to conceive remains unclear. We aimed 1) to examine the association between FSF in reproductive-aged preconception Asian women and fecundability, as measured by time-to-pregnancy in menstrual cycles, and 2) to examine lifestyle and behavioral factors associated with FSF. METHODS From the Singapore PREconception Study of long-Term maternal and child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) prospective cohort, we evaluated FSF using the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6) and ascertained time-to-pregnancy within a year of baseline assessment. We estimated fecundability ratio (FR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using the discrete-time proportional hazards model, accounting for left-truncation and right censoring. We used multivariable logistic and linear regression models to identify potential factors related to FSF. RESULTS Among 513 participants, 58.9% had low FSF as defined by a total FSFI-6 score at or below the median value of 22. Compared to women with high FSF, those with low FSF had a 27% reduction in fecundability (FR 0.73; 95% CI 0.54, 0.99), with adjustment for age, ethnicity, education, parity and body mass index. Overall, the FRs generally reduced with decreasing FSFI-6 scores. Physical activity, obesity, absence of probable depression and anxiety were independently associated with reduced odds of low FSF and increased FSFI-6 scores, after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Low FSF is associated with a longer time-to-pregnancy. Early evaluation and optimization of FSF through increased physical activity and optimal mental health may help to improve female fecundity. The finding of obese women having improved FSF remains uncertain which warrants further investigations on plausibly mechanisms. In general, the current finding highlights the importance of addressing FSF in preconception care service for general women, which is currently lacking as part of the fertility promotion effort in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- See Ling Loy
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, 229899 Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857 Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 117609 Singapore
| | - Chee Wai Ku
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857 Singapore
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, 229899 Singapore
| | - Yin Bun Cheung
- Program in Health Services & Systems Research and Center for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857 Singapore
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Keith M. Godfrey
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD UK
- National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD UK
| | - Yap-Seng Chong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 117609 Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, 119228 Singapore
| | - Lynette Pei-Chi Shek
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 117609 Singapore
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, 119228 Singapore
- Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, 119074 Singapore
| | - Kok Hian Tan
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857 Singapore
- Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, 229899 Singapore
| | - Fabian Kok Peng Yap
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857 Singapore
- Department of Paediatrics, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, 229899 Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 636921 Singapore
| | - Jonathan Y. Bernard
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 117609 Singapore
- Université de Paris, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Inserm, INRAE, F75004 Paris, France
| | - Helen Chen
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857 Singapore
- Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, 229899 Singapore
| | - Shiao-Yng Chan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 117609 Singapore
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, 119228 Singapore
| | - Tse Yeun Tan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, 229899 Singapore
| | - Jerry Kok Yen Chan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, 229899 Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857 Singapore
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