Sexuality and chronic pain in long-lived females: description of interferential factors

• Autor(a) principal: Santos,Alana Meneses
• Data de Publicação: 2015
• Outros Autores: Santos,Fânia Cristina dos, Cendoroglo,Maysa Seabra
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Dor
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1806-00132015000100048
• topic: Chronic pain; Geriatrics; Health of the elderly; Physiological sexual dysfunction; Sexuality

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Approximately 60% of chronic pain individuals complain of sexual dysfunction, the prevalence of which varies from 20 to 88%. Among sexual complaints most reported by elderly females there are low interest, difficult vaginal lubrication and inability to reach orgasm. This study aimed at checking the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among long-lived females with chronic pain and at describing interfering factors. METHODS: This was a descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study with females above 80 years of age. Data were collected on demographics, comorbidities and use of drugs, in addition to chronic pain evaluation and measurement and identification of sexual dysfunctions by the Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire. RESULTS: Participated in the study 32 elderly females, with mean age of 87 years, most of them widows, with less than 4 years of education, good self-reported health, without sexual partner and with primarily osteoarthritis-induced nociceptive pain.The prevalenceof sexual dysfunctionwasfoundtobe 78% ofelderlywithchronicpainwith a mean score of7. Major reason for sexual inactivity was lack of a partner. In approximately 28.1% it was observed that chronic pain would interfere with sexuality. It was also observed that no elderly female had been previously addressed as to their sexuality, although 68.8% have stated that would have liked to be addressed. CONCLUSION: Chronic pain was considered a factor interfering with sexual practices of studied long-lived females, suggesting that this symptom may impair sexuality during aging.