Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Type 1, 2 Diabetes and Thyroid Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taif City, Saudi Arabia

Introduction

Sexual functions are an important aspect of human life. Along with sleeping and eating, sexual functioning is one of the basic human drives. As such, sexual satisfaction and normal sexual functioning are significant factors in determining quality of life.¹

Many definitions of sexual dysfunctions have been described in the literature. However, all refer to either a sexual life not meeting the person’s expectations or a disturbance in their normal sexual response during any part of intercourse that leads to less or no satisfaction. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5^th edition), there are three main categories of female sexual dysfunction (FSD): female sexual interest/arousal disorder, female orgasmic disorder, and genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder. ^2,3

Depression was found to be the most common cause for FSD in several published studies, not to mention that sexual dysfunction itself could lead to depression as well.⁴ Also, antidepressant medications, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, affect sexual desire and function.⁵

Women with diabetes are at increased risk of developing depression which is the most well-established risk factor for female sexual dysfunction.^6,7 Moreover, diabetes negatively impacts sexual function in different psychological ways including low self-image, tiredness, and reduced in pleasure from sex. ^8,9

On the medical aspect, diabetes increases the risk of vaginal infection, dyspareunia, and general orgasmic problem.¹⁰

Furthermore, chronic diseases, such as systemic hypertension, can contribute to sexual dysfunction due to vascularity impairment of many structures, including the genital area.¹¹ Also, DM and thyroid can potentially affect the quality of sexual life.¹²

Diabetes will affect more than 70 million in the Middle East and North African region by 2040. ¹³ Saudi Arabia also has one of the highest diabetes prevalence, estimated at 17.6%. ¹³ The consequences of diabetes result from its complications, including retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, renal complications, stroke, and heart complications. ¹⁴ Diabetes has also been considered a risk factor for impaired sexual function in males and females. ¹⁵

The relation between diabetes and erectile dysfunction among men is well established.¹⁶ However, few studies focus on FSD among diabetic women with a poor understanding of factors leading to FSD among diabetic women. ^17,18 FSD is more commonly surrounded by social barriers, preventing the patient from discussing sexual problems with the physician and taking appropriate medical advice.¹⁹

This study was motivated by the scarcity of studies on FSD in Saudi Arabia. Our study aims to add more information about FSD in the population of women from the Arab culture. We assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women with diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders and the relationships between DM complications, treatment modalities, and disease control.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The study was approved by the Ethical Committee (IRB) of AlHada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia (reference number: 2020–444). All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the regional research committee and with the Declaration of Helsinki 1964 and its later amendments. After explaining the study’s purposes, both written and verbal consent were obtained from all participants and women were informed that their participation was voluntary, confidential, and anonymous.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of female patients who had routine clinic visits to Prince Mansour Diabetes Center or AlHada Armed Forces Hospital, from January to November 2020 in Taif, Saudi Arabia. We included 18- to 50-year-old female patients with DM and/or thyroid patients, who are married and had recent (within 1 year) laboratory tests. We excluded those with end-stage renal disease, active psychiatric illness, and divorced/single. The questionnaire included the following items: personal data, physical activities, type of diabetes and thyroid disorder, DM complications, and medications. We also collected data about the height and weight of each patient, and their body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Laboratory data for our participants collected from the electronic medical record. We divided our participants according to high (>15,000 Saudi Riyals), moderate (15,000–5000), and low monthly (<5000 Saudi Riyals) income.

Three female physicians communicated with the female patients during the data collection. Also, we used a separate room in the clinic to obtain the data to ensure privacy. We briefly explained to patients about the data and scoring system before starting. Both verbal and written consent taken from participants before starting the interview, and their responses were completely confidential. Data collected through a questionnaire administered to each participant by one of the researchers through face-to-face interviews than by phone interview (due to COVID-19 lockdown).

The researchers used an Arabic validated version of the ASEX to screen FSD. ²⁰ The ASEX consists of five questions to evaluate each of the following: the ability to reach orgasm, arousal, sex drive, satisfaction with orgasm, and vaginal lubrication for females. The scores ranged from 5 to 30, participants with high scores representing higher levels of sexual dysfunction. Participants classified into sexual dysfunction if they have one of the following: total score of 19 or more, if the patient scored five or more on any of the five items, and if the patient scored four or more on three items.

Data coded and entered in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and then imported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The qualitative data presented as numbers and percentages. The quantitative data are given as means and standard deviation (mean ± SD). The Chi-square test was used to study the relationship between variables, and the t-test was used to compare means. A P-value less than 0.05 (typically ≤0.05) is statistically significant.

Result

A total of 253 female participants were included in the study, with a mean age of 39.1 ± 7.3 years, with a mean BMI in the obesity range (Table 1). Two-thirds of the participants had a bachelor’s degree or higher, and one-fifth of the patients was earning a low income. The most common comorbidities were hypothyroidism, followed by type 2 diabetes, while the least prevalent were cardiac disease and stroke. Half of the patients are taking thyroxine, while one-fifth were taking cholecalciferol. The most prescribed medication was oral hypoglycemic agents for those with type 2 diabetes with optimal glycemic control based on the mean HbA1c and fasting glucose. Majorities of the participants report ≥150 min of exercise per week.

Table 1 Baseline Characteristics of the Whole Cohort

Regarding the participant’s response to the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), sex drive was strong in 57.7% (Table 2). Also, two-thirds of the participants were easily aroused, had no problem with vaginal dryness during sexual intercourse, and achieved orgasm. Around 20% of the participants were unsatisfied with their orgasm.

Table 2 Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) Response

Based on the ASEX questionnaire, two-thirds of the participants have no FSD (Table 3). Compared to those with no FSD, those with FSD had lower BMI (P = 0.375), were more likely to have a master’s degree or higher (P = 0.117), diabetes (P = 0.879), hypothyroidism (P = 0.625), diabetes-related microvascular complications and stroke (P = 0.049), taking cholecalciferol (P = 0.222), higher HbA1c (P = 0.731), higher fasting glucose (P = 0.161), higher TSH level (P = 0.561), lower total cholesterol (P = 0.368), lower LDL level (P = 0.339), higher urinary microalbuminuria (P = 0.343), and exercise more regularly (P = 0.929).

Table 3 Baseline Characteristics Based on the ASEX Score

Patients with diabetes and coexisting thyroid disorders were found to have high ASEX score (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Total mean ASEX score according to the comorbidities.

Partial correlation adjusting for age, education, income, smoking, comorbidities, and exercise showed a non-significant negative correlation between total FSD score and both BMI (r −0.275, P 0.363) and TSH (r = −0.070, P = 0.820) and a non-significant positive correlation between total FSD score and both HbA1c (r = 0.309, P = 0.304) and the fasting blood glucose (r = 0.460, P = 0.114).

Discussion

Our study shows that around one-third of the patients have FSD based on the ASEX tool. Similar findings were reported in a recent study in Turkey.²¹ Also, our study showed that patients with diabetes and thyroid dysfunction have the highest ASEX score. Previous studies nationally and regionally in patients with type 2 diabetes showed a higher prevalence of FSD.^22,23 The observed difference is likely related to the younger age, optimal glycemic control, and the FSD screening tool in our study. Also, we showed that both fasting glucose and HbA1c positively correlated with the ASEX score. Similar findings were reported in previous studies.^24,25 Patients with type 1 diabetes also had a higher ASEX score in our study. Similar findings were observed in the previously published case-control study.²⁶

Hypothyroid patients in our study had the lowest ASEX score. A previous study showed that patients with subclinical hypothyroidism had an increased risk of FSD.²⁷ The observed difference is likely related to the hypothyroidism control as we showed this in the mean TSH level and the negative correlation between ASEX and TSH in our study. The observed increased ASEX score in our patients with hyperthyroidism was demonstrated in a previous study and likely explained by hormonal changes other than TSH and depression.²⁸

We showed that FSD patients have a lower BMI. This is opposite to what has been reported in a previous study, where BMI was negatively correlated with sexual dysfunction.^29,30 This might be explained by our study population, where the low mean BMI might indicate poorly controlled underlying disease among the participants.

Our study included few patients who are actively smoking, but we did not identify a relationship with the score. Similar findings were observed between smoking and FSD in previous studies.^31,32 LDL and total cholesterol in our patients with FSD were lower than those without FSD. This was also observed in a recently published study where hyperlipidemia increased FSD risk.^33,34 Also, our patients with positive urinary microalbuminuria were more likely to have FSD. Similar findings were reported in previous studies in patients with chronic kidney disease.^35,36

The strengths of our study include its novelty and the collection of comprehensive clinical and biochemical data. Limitations include the small patient size and that only a single center was included.

Conclusion

FSD is highly prevalent in our study population with a one-third (32.5%) of the patients have FSD based on the ASEX score. Type 1 diabetes has the highest ASEX score. Non-significant negative correlation between total ASEX score and both BMI and TSH and a non-significant positive correlation between total ASEX score and both HbA1c and fasting blood glucose. It seems that FSD is commonly prevalent among patients with thyroid disease and diabetes and increasing awareness among health-care provider is highly recommended to address this issue.