Prevalence and Severity of Sexual Dysfunction Among Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a significant but often-overlooked complication among women with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to examine the prevalence and severity of SD among women with T2DM attending the diabetes clinics of the teaching hospitals in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 90 women with T2DM attending the diabetes clinics of two teaching hospitals. Data were retrieved using a validated questionnaire comprising socio-demographic characteristics, the female sexual function index (FSFI), and the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R). Descriptive and inferential (ANOVA) were used for data analysis at a 0.05 level of significance. Results: The prevalence of SD was exceptionally high, with 86.7% of respondents experiencing some degree of dysfunction. Arousal (mean = 2.63 ± 1.4) and orgasm (mean = 2.67 ± 1.5) were the most affected domains. Additionally, 81.1% of respondents experienced high sexual distress, with a mean FSDS-R score of 19.9 ± 1.9. Sexual distress was significantly associated with age (F = 33.12, df = 2.87, P < .001), education (F = 8.13, df = 2.87, P = .001), diabetes duration (F = 10.90, df = 2.87, P < .001), hypertension (F = 83.71, df = 1.88, P < .001), and treatment type (F = 45.56, df = 2.87, P < .001). Conclusion: This study reveals a high burden of SD and distress among participants. Older age, higher education, longer diabetes duration, hypertension, and complex treatment regimens significantly influence the severity of dysfunction. Therefore, routine assessment of sexual health should be integrated into diabetes care, and targeted interventions are essential to address this neglected aspect of women’s health.