Keywords
reproductive age
married women
sexual health
Pakistan
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Female sexual dysfunction is a significant issue with regard to the reproductive and psychological health of a woman, which is underreported in most developing nations because of cultural and social stigma.
Objective: To estimate the occurrence of sexual dysfunction among married women of reproductive age in one of the tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan.
Methods: The cross-sectional research was performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Memon Medical Institute Hospital (MMIH), Karachi, between March 2025 and June 2025. The sample of 200 married women aged between 18 and 45 years old used the non-probability consecutive sampling. A structured questionnaire that contained demographic data and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to measure sexual functioning was used to capture data. Individuals with disorders of sexual health, including serious psychopathic disorders and cancer, were not permitted to attend the study. SPSS version 26 was utilized to analyze data, whereas the frequencies and percentages were calculated by means of descriptive statistics.
Results: The 200 respondents found that 86 women (43 percent) had sexual dysfunction according to the FSFI scores. The most frequently reported issues were reduced sexual desire (39%) and arousal difficulties (34%), orgasmic dysfunction (31%), lubrication problems (28%), and pain during sexual intercourse (26%). Sexual dysfunction was detected in various age groups and reproductive histories.
Conclusion: Among married women who are reproductive, sexual dysfunction is prevalent and is a significant yet under-recognized area of reproductive health. Awareness, counseling, and regular screening should be enhanced in the gynecological practice in order to ensure the sexual health of women and to improve the overall quality of life.