Association between vaginal lubrication impairment and tobacco consumption is independent of menopausal status and sexual partner characteristics: a multicentre Latin American sexual active mid-aged women analysis
The female sexual response may be impaired in several areas; vaginal lubrication is one of them, especially in middle-aged women. Vaginal lubrications problems can obey themselves climacteric hormonal changes, but there are other external factors that can potentially produce sexual dysfunction at this level. Smoking habits could play an important role on this.
METHODS:
We carried out a cross-sectional analytical study on sexually active women aged 40-59 years living in 11 Latin American countries. To measure vaginal lubrication during sexual response we used the corresponding domain of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) defining vaginal lubrication impairment (VLI) as dichotomous variable: yes/not. Tobacco consumption was measuring using a validated self-administrated questionnaire. Also we measured other demographic, clinical, and, sexual partner factors. Binary Logistic Regression Models were performed for evaluating the association with lubrication as response variable.
RESULTS:
8394 women were interviewed and 6434 of them were sexually active. Age average was 48.8 ± 5.66 years. 62.9% were married, 64.3%, 44.4% were postmenopausal and 20.6% were perimenopausal, 15.6% used hormone replacement therapy. 17.8% reported that their partner had erectile dysfunction (ED) and 17.8% described premature ejaculation in their partner. Also, 28.1% guessed that their partner was unfaithful. 17.1% of them had VLI and 18.0% were smoking. In crude analysis, current tobacco consumption (OR: 1.21; IC95%:1.03-1.43), age, perimenopausal status, postmenopausal status, partner erectile dysfunction, partner premature ejaculation, and self-perception of partner unfaithful were associated with LI. In multiple logistic regression model adjusted by age, partner related variables and menopausal status, current consumption remained associated with LI (OR:1.36; IC95%:1.14-1.61).
CONCLUSIONS:
Current tobacco consumption is associated with lubrication impairment. Smoking habits must be explored in women during climacteric period. There may be hormonal and psychological mechanisms to explain this association.