Women with type 1 diabetes are prone to sexual dysfunction
12 April 2002
Belgian doctors have confirmed that women with type 1 diabetes are prone to sexual dysfunction, especially decreased lubrication.
More than one-quarter of women with diabetes in their study reported sexual dysfunction, significantly more than women without diabetes. The study was published in the journal Diabetes Care (2002; 25: 672-77).
Decreased desire and dyspareunia were most often reported, as were problems in the arousal phase.
The research also suggests that psychological factors and not physical factors related to diabetes are related to sexual dysfunction in women with diabetes.
Sexual dysfunction did not seem to be influenced by the woman's age, body mass index, how long she had been diagnosed with diabetes, blood glucose levels, medication use, menopausal status, or whether she had diabetic complications.
Depression was a significant predictor for sexual dysfunction in both women with diabetes and those without.
Last Reviewed: 19 April 2002
- Medical Observer Weekly 12/04/02
