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Effects of vaginal discharge on female sexual function
Author(s) -
Gungor Ayse N.C.,
Uludag Aysegul,
Sahin Melih,
Gencer Meryem,
Uysal Ahmet
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.07.012
Subject(s) - medicine , orgasm , vaginal discharge , sexual intercourse , itching , gynecology , arousal , sexual dysfunction , female sexual dysfunction , sexual function , obstetrics , vagina , sex organ , population , surgery , environmental health , neuroscience , biology , genetics
Objective To assess the effects of vaginal discharge on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) by using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Methods In a study at a university hospital in Canakkale, Turkey, women affected by vaginal discharge and age‐matched healthy control women were recruited between January and December 2012. Women were grouped in accordance with their vaginal discharge complaints and each participant completed the FSFI questionnaire. Results A total of 114 women were included in the study. Women in the first group (n = 58) had no vaginal discharge or had physiologic vaginal discharge, those in the second group (n = 29) had abnormal vaginal discharge with itching, and those in the third group (n = 27) had abnormal vaginal discharge without itching. Compared with the first group, women in the second and third groups had higher FSFI scores for desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain, in addition to higher overall FSFI scores. Women with genital malodor had significantly higher FSFI scores than patients without genital malodor (23.83 ± 5.07 vs 21.15 ± 4.78; P = 0.008). Conclusion Women with abnormal vaginal discharges were found to have better FSFI scores for some domains. This finding may be attributed to the adverse effects of sexual intercourse on vaginal infections.