Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States
ABSTRACT: Introduction: International studies have demonstrated increasing rates of sexual dysfunction amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; however, the impact of the pandemic on female sexual function in the United States is unknown. Aim: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2021-08-01
|
| Series: | Sexual Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116121000350 |
| _version_ | 1797715290891485184 |
|---|---|
| author | Hriday P. Bhambhvani, BS Tony Chen, MD Alex M. Kasman, MD Genester Wilson-King, MD Ekene Enemchukwu, MD, MPH Michael L. Eisenberg, MD |
| author_facet | Hriday P. Bhambhvani, BS Tony Chen, MD Alex M. Kasman, MD Genester Wilson-King, MD Ekene Enemchukwu, MD, MPH Michael L. Eisenberg, MD |
| author_sort | Hriday P. Bhambhvani, BS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: Introduction: International studies have demonstrated increasing rates of sexual dysfunction amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; however, the impact of the pandemic on female sexual function in the United States is unknown. Aim: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on female sexual function and frequency in the United States. Methods: A pre-pandemic survey containing the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and demographic questions was completed by adult women in the United States from October 20, 2019 and March 1, 2020. The same women were sent a follow-up survey also containing the FSFI, as well as the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety with 4 items (PHQ-4), and questions pertaining to mask wearing habits, job loss, and relationship changes. Risk for female sexual dysfunction (RFSD) was defined as FSFI < 26.55. Main Outcome Measure: Differences in pre-pandemic and intra-pandemic female sexual function, measured by the FSFI, and sexual frequency. Results: Ninety-one women were included in this study. Overall FSFI significantly decreased during the pandemic (27.2 vs 28.8, P = .002), with domain-specific decreases in arousal (4.41 vs 4.86, P = .0002), lubrication (4.90 vs 5.22, P = .004), and satisfaction (4.40 vs 4.70, P = .04). There was no change in sexual frequency. Contingency table analysis of RFSD prior to and during the pandemic revealed significantly increased RFSD during the pandemic (P = .002). Women who developed RFSD during the pandemic had higher PHQ-4 anxiety subscale scores (3.74 vs 2.53, P = .01) and depression subscale scores (2.74 vs 1.43, P = .001) than those who did not. Development of FSD was not associated with age, home region, relationship status, mask wearing habits, knowing someone who tested positive for COVID-19, relationship change, or job loss and/or reduction during the pandemic. Conclusion: In this population of female cannabis users, risk for sexual dysfunction increased amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and is associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Bhambhvani HP, Chen T, Wilson-King AM, et al. Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States. Sex Med 2021;9:100355. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:04:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17240fab41fd4ac5baa40fbd48b825f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-1161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:04:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexual Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-17240fab41fd4ac5baa40fbd48b825f92023-09-02T19:38:17ZengOxford University PressSexual Medicine2050-11612021-08-0194100355Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United StatesHriday P. Bhambhvani, BS0Tony Chen, MD1Alex M. Kasman, MD2Genester Wilson-King, MD3Ekene Enemchukwu, MD, MPH4Michael L. Eisenberg, MD5Department of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA; Corresponding Author: Hriday P. Bhambhvani, BS, Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA, Tel: (650) 723-3391, Fax: (650) 498-5346.Department of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USADepartment of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USAFounder, Medical Director, Victory Rejuvenation Center, Lake Mary, FL, USADepartment of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USADepartment of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USAABSTRACT: Introduction: International studies have demonstrated increasing rates of sexual dysfunction amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; however, the impact of the pandemic on female sexual function in the United States is unknown. Aim: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on female sexual function and frequency in the United States. Methods: A pre-pandemic survey containing the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and demographic questions was completed by adult women in the United States from October 20, 2019 and March 1, 2020. The same women were sent a follow-up survey also containing the FSFI, as well as the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety with 4 items (PHQ-4), and questions pertaining to mask wearing habits, job loss, and relationship changes. Risk for female sexual dysfunction (RFSD) was defined as FSFI < 26.55. Main Outcome Measure: Differences in pre-pandemic and intra-pandemic female sexual function, measured by the FSFI, and sexual frequency. Results: Ninety-one women were included in this study. Overall FSFI significantly decreased during the pandemic (27.2 vs 28.8, P = .002), with domain-specific decreases in arousal (4.41 vs 4.86, P = .0002), lubrication (4.90 vs 5.22, P = .004), and satisfaction (4.40 vs 4.70, P = .04). There was no change in sexual frequency. Contingency table analysis of RFSD prior to and during the pandemic revealed significantly increased RFSD during the pandemic (P = .002). Women who developed RFSD during the pandemic had higher PHQ-4 anxiety subscale scores (3.74 vs 2.53, P = .01) and depression subscale scores (2.74 vs 1.43, P = .001) than those who did not. Development of FSD was not associated with age, home region, relationship status, mask wearing habits, knowing someone who tested positive for COVID-19, relationship change, or job loss and/or reduction during the pandemic. Conclusion: In this population of female cannabis users, risk for sexual dysfunction increased amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and is associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Bhambhvani HP, Chen T, Wilson-King AM, et al. Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States. Sex Med 2021;9:100355.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116121000350Sexorgasm, IntimacyPainFrequencyIntercourse |
| spellingShingle | Hriday P. Bhambhvani, BS Tony Chen, MD Alex M. Kasman, MD Genester Wilson-King, MD Ekene Enemchukwu, MD, MPH Michael L. Eisenberg, MD Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States Sexual Medicine Sex orgasm, Intimacy Pain Frequency Intercourse |
| title | Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States |
| title_full | Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States |
| title_short | Female Sexual Function During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States |
| title_sort | female sexual function during the covid 19 pandemic in the united states |
| topic | Sex orgasm, Intimacy Pain Frequency Intercourse |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116121000350 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hridaypbhambhvanibs femalesexualfunctionduringthecovid19pandemicintheunitedstates AT tonychenmd femalesexualfunctionduringthecovid19pandemicintheunitedstates AT alexmkasmanmd femalesexualfunctionduringthecovid19pandemicintheunitedstates AT genesterwilsonkingmd femalesexualfunctionduringthecovid19pandemicintheunitedstates AT ekeneenemchukwumdmph femalesexualfunctionduringthecovid19pandemicintheunitedstates AT michaelleisenbergmd femalesexualfunctionduringthecovid19pandemicintheunitedstates |