Sleep, relationship quality tied to women’s sexual health: Study
Researchers say these areas could be targeted in therapy
Sexual health among women with Parkinson’s disease is associated with sleep quality and the quality of the relationships they have with their partners, a study in Brazil found.
The study analyzed the short- and long-term sexual health of 100 women with mild to moderate disease who were sexually active in the six months preceding the study. Other factors, including motor, nonmotor, and social factors could also affect their sexual health, the researchers said.
“By identifying critical factors such as the quality of relationships and sleep disturbances, which play a significant role in affecting sexual health, the study provides a foundation for more tailored and effective therapeutic approaches,” they wrote.
The study, “The impact of motor, non-motor, and social aspects on the sexual health of women living with Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease.
Sexual dysfunction is among the nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s. According to the researchers, it affects 36% to 87.5% of women with Parkinson’s, manifesting as difficulties with arousal, low sexual desire, and difficulty achieving orgasm, leading to overall sexual dissatisfaction. “However, sexual problems in women with Parkinson’s disease are not well understood and have not been thoroughly researched,” the researchers wrote.
Sexual health measures assessed
The researchers conducted an exploratory study on 100 women with mild to moderate Parkinson’s who had been sexually active in the previous six months. Data were collected via remote interviews and included women’s demographic and clinical features, as well as sexual health assessments.
The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to assess short-term sexual health, and the Sexual Quotient-Female (SQ-F) evaluated it over the long term.
The women had a mean age of 53.5. All identified as women both biologically and socially, and were heterosexual. Most (67%) were postmenopausal, and about one-third had early-onset Parkinson’s. The majority (83%) reported being in long-term, stable relationships, while 17% were in short-term relationships.
Further analysis revealed there were moderate positive correlations between FSFI scores and the quality of a couple’s relationship and sleep. At the same time, the FSFI score negatively correlated with motor experiences of daily living and depressive symptoms.
SQ-F scores were moderately correlated with the quality of the couple’s relationship, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms.
However, in a multiple comparison analysis, only the quality of the couple’s relationship and sleep quality remained independent predictors of both short- and long-term sexual health.
“The findings from this study offer valuable insights that can guide the development of interventions aimed at enhancing sexual health in women with [Parkinson’s disease],” the researchers wrote.
About the Author
