Introduction: Female sexual dysfunction is an important public health problem, especially because of its negative effects on physical health and well-being, and it also significantly reduces the quality of life in women and their partners. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction around the world is generally estimated at 60% of the population. Purpose: This study aimed to explain the importance and an impact of sexual dysfunction on the life of women by presenting all six domains of sexual (dys)functions, assessing the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction in Slovenia and identifying the risk factors that affect the incidence of sexual dysfunction. Method of work: In the theoretical part we, undertook a literature review using Google.si, Cobiss.si, CINAHL, Medline (PubMed), Science Direct, ResearchGate, Whiley Online Library. The keyword terms searched were female sexual dysfunction, assessment of female sexual function, prevalence of female sexual dysfunction, female sexual function. In the empirical part, we analysed the data, obtained in the project named 'Prevalent epidemiological study: women's sexual dysfunction in Slovenia'. The project was carried out under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences University of Ljubljana and the National Institute of Public Health in 2015 (the project leader, Dr Andrej Starc). For the empirical part, a cross-sectional study was carried out using the descriptive method of work, where we collected data using the questionnaire. A total of 623 respondents took part in the study which visited the gynaecology clinics in Sežana Health Centre, Izola General Hospital, the University Clinical Centre of Ljubljana and the Celje Health Centre during the course of the research. We used a validated questionnaire in the field of self-assessment of female sexual function called the 'Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)', which serves as a tool for evaluating the prevalence of female sexual function. For the data processing and results displaying, the IBM SPSS Statistics programme was used. Results: A total number of 623 completed questionnaires were examined. The questionnaire showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.93). In the sample, more than 50% of respondents were under 40 years of age, with an average body weight index of 24. Most of them were heterosexual (n = 599; 96%) with sexual intercourse with one partner (n = 535; 86%). During the duration of the study we recorded 108 (17%) pregnant women and 101 (16%) in menopause. A larger proportion of participants were using condoms (n = 113; 18%) or a contraceptive pill (n = 80; 13%) as a contraceptive method. Furthermore, female sexual dysfunction prevalence in Slovenia can be estimated at 31%. Discussion and conclusion: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in Slovenia is comparable to various studies in the EU. Sexual dysfunction increases with age and is adversely affected by the onset of menopause. Only the domain of pain that is tied to vagina penetration is more common in younger women. Domains of sexual function are sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pleasure and pain, which correlate well with one another and point to the multidimensional sexual nature of women.
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