Pelvic floor muscle strength of women consulting at the gynecology outpatient clinics and its correlation with sexual dysfunction: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To investigate the pelvic floor muscle strength of the women and evaluate its possible correlation with sexual dysfunction.

Methods: In this cross-sectional type study, stratified clusters were used for the sampling method. Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF) worksheet were used for questions on sexual function. The pelvic floor muscle strength of subjects was assessed by perineometer. The chi-squared test, logistic regression and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used for the statistical analysis.

Results: Four hundred thirty primiparous women, mean age 38.5 participated in this study. The average pelvic floor muscle strength value was found 31.4±9.6 cm H2O and the average Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF) score was found 26.5±6.9. Parity (odds ratio OR=5.546) and age 40 or higher (OR=3.484) were found correlated with pelvic floor muscle weakness (p<0.05). The factors directly correlated with sexual dysfunction were found being overweight (OR=2.105) and age 40 or higher (OR=2.451) (p<0.05). Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that there was a statistically significant linear correlation between the muscular strength of the pelvic floor and sexual function (p=0.001).

Conclusion: The results suggested subjects with decreased pelvic floor muscle strength value had higher frequency of sexual dysfunction.