Effect of contraceptive methods on female sexual function

Abstract

Background: Female sexual function is the ability to achieve sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction, which results in a state of wellness and a life with good quality. Some women experience sexual dysfunction (SD), which is an important public health problem. Objective: To study the effect of commonly used contraceptive methods on female sexual function. Patients and methods: A cross sectional-controlled study on 314 female divided into two groups, study group of 164 females taking one of the common contraceptive methods and a control group of 150 females were not on any method. Each one answered the questions of the female sexual function index questionnaire (FSFI) and a female sexual dysfunction (FSD) was diagnosed when the FSFI total score was< 26.55. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between FSFI scores of the study group (28.40±5.92) with that of the control group (31.34±4.83) in each domain except pain. And a significant lower FSFI scores among depomedroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA) and progestin only pills (POP) subgroups in comparison to controls and other subgroups. However, no significant difference was found between FSFI scores of the combined oral contraceptive (COC) subgroup and control group in each domain except for satisfaction, also no difference was found between the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) subgroup scores and control group in each domain. Moreover, large percent of impaired sexual function (40%, 16.9%) was in DMPA and POP group. 53% of good sexual function cases had not any contraception and 15% were on IUCD. Conclusion: Progestin only contraceptives were associated with impairment of FSF; the injectable was worse than the POP while neither IUDs users nor participants on combined oral pills (COP) suffered from impaired sexual function.