Resumen

AGRAMONTE MACHADO, Adriana et al. Sexual response of middle-aged women with diabetes mellitus. Rev Cubana Endocrinol [online]. 2002, vol.13, n.3. ISSN 1561-2953.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to describe the characteristics of the sexual response of women with diabetes mellitus (DM). Self-administered questionnaries (Sexuality and Beck's Depression Inventory) were applied. 180 middle-aged women (90 with DM and 90 without DM) registered in 31 family physician offices from 3 polyclinics of Plaza de la Revolución municipality were evaluated. The following information was obtained for each woman: general data necessary for the sociodemographic characterization, climacteric stage, presence of depression and frequency of sexual relations (SR), level of satisfaction with SR, sexual desire and excitement, and orgasms. The characteristics of the disease and the self-perception of its influence on sexuality were taken into consideration in women with DM. It was proved that women with DM had lower levels of sexual desire and excitement and higher frequency of sex disorders, more frequent orgasms, sexual partners with more sexual dysfunctions, and that most of them are satisfied with the frequency of their sexual relations. It was concluded that sexual response of women with DM differs quantitatively from that of women with no DM. New studies will be necessary to go deep into the causes of these differences.

Palabras clave : CROSS SECTIONAL STUDIES; EPIDEMIOLOGY; DESCRIPTIVE; DIABETES MELLITUS; SEX BEHAVIOR; CLIMATERIC; MENOPAUSIA; FEMALE.