Diabetes and female sexual health: an ongoing challenge

Abstract

Objective: Female sexual health remains a much-neglected area in diabetes clinical medicine however it is important for psychological and social well-being as well as reproductive function. We aimed to explore the views of women regarding the impact of diabetes on sexual health beyond pregnancy and reproduction.
Research Design and Methods: an online survey distributed via social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn remained open for four weeks. Questions addressed a range of medical and psychological factors including body image, self-esteem and confidence. 
Results: 258 participants completed the survey, aged 18-73 years. Results show a significant deterioration over past 20 years, with issues including negative impact on self-esteem (68.6%) and relationships (61.6%), feeling less attractive (57.8%), feeling lonely/isolated (66.3%), worries about fertility (52.7%) and pregnancy (69.4%) and worry about diabetes being passed on to children (79.5%). Medical factors included vaginal infections (77.9%), dyspareunia (51.2%), general orgasmic problems (57.4%). Almost half (49.2%) were unaware that these problems were more common in women with diabetes. Shorter duration of diabetes was negatively associated with self-esteem (p=<.002), loneliness (p=<.001), impact on relationships (p=<0.017). Those without children and those aged under 35 years were more worried about fertility (p=.000) and pregnancy (p=.000).
Conclusions: sexual health issues continue to pose challenges for women with diabetes in terms of medical and psychological challenges. The psychosocial aspects of diabetes and sexuality, including feeling unattractive both physically and emotionally are widely reported by participants, demonstrating the very damaging and distressing personal consequences.

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ORCID for Claire Reidy: orcid.org/0000-0002-0013-6843

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