Obesity and female sexual dysfunctions: A systematic review of prevalence with meta-analysis

A. Ferrández Infante; B. Novella Arribas; K. S. Khan; Javier Zamora; A. R. Jurado López; M. Fragoso Pasero; C. Suárez Fernández

doi:10.1016/j.semerg.2023.102022

Obesity and female sexual dysfunctions: A systematic review of prevalence with meta-analysis

A. Ferrández Infante^*, B. Novella Arribas, K. S. Khan, Javier Zamora, A. R. Jurado López, M. Fragoso Pasero, C. Suárez Fernández

^*Corresponding author for this work

Metabolism and Systems Research

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Obesity represents a major global health challenge. Female sexual dysfunctions have a negative impact on quality of life and overall health balance. A higher rate of female sexual dysfunctions in obese women has been suggested. This systematic review summarized the literature on female sexual dysfunction prevalence in obese women. The review was registered (Open Science Framework OSF.IO/7CG95) and a literature search without language restrictions was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, from January 1990 to December 2021. Cross-sectional and intervention studies were included, the latter if they provided female sexual dysfunction rate data in obese women prior to the intervention. For inclusion, studies should have used the female sexual function index or its simplified version. Study quality was assessed to evaluate if female sexual function index was properly applied using six items. Rates of female sexual dysfunctions examining for differences between obese vs class III obese and high vs low quality subgroups were summarized. Random effects meta-analysis was performed, calculating 95% confidence intervals (CI) and examining heterogeneity with I² statistic. Publication bias was evaluated with funnel plot. There were 15 relevant studies (1720 women participants in total with 153 obese and 1567 class III obese women). Of these, 8 (53.3%) studies complied with >4 quality items. Overall prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions was 62% (95% CI 55–68%; I² 85.5%). Among obese women the prevalence was 69% (95% CI 55–80%; I² 73.8%) vs 59% (95% CI 52–66%; I² 87.5%) among those class III obese (subgroup difference p = 0.15). Among high quality studies the prevalence was 54% (95% CI 50–60%; I² 46.8%) vs 72% (95% CI 61–81%; I² 88.0%) among low quality studies (subgroup difference p = 0.002). There was no funnel asymmetry. We interpreted that the rate of sexual dysfunctions is high in obese and class III obese women. Obesity should be regarded as a risk factor for female sexual dysfunctions.

Original language	English
Article number	102022
Journal	Medicina de Familia - SEMERGEN
Volume	49
Issue number	7
Early online date	15 Jun 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semerg.2023.102022
Publication status	Published - Oct 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
KSK is Distinguished Investigator at University of Granada funded by the Beatriz Galindo (senior modality) Program of the Spanish Ministry of Education.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN)

Keywords

Class III obesity
Female sexual dysfunctions
Female sexual function index
FSFI
Morbid obesity
Obesity
Prevalence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Family Practice

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.semerg.2023.102022Licence: None: All rights reserved

Cite this

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title = "Obesity and female sexual dysfunctions: A systematic review of prevalence with meta-analysis",

abstract = "Obesity represents a major global health challenge. Female sexual dysfunctions have a negative impact on quality of life and overall health balance. A higher rate of female sexual dysfunctions in obese women has been suggested. This systematic review summarized the literature on female sexual dysfunction prevalence in obese women. The review was registered (Open Science Framework OSF.IO/7CG95) and a literature search without language restrictions was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, from January 1990 to December 2021. Cross-sectional and intervention studies were included, the latter if they provided female sexual dysfunction rate data in obese women prior to the intervention. For inclusion, studies should have used the female sexual function index or its simplified version. Study quality was assessed to evaluate if female sexual function index was properly applied using six items. Rates of female sexual dysfunctions examining for differences between obese vs class III obese and high vs low quality subgroups were summarized. Random effects meta-analysis was performed, calculating 95% confidence intervals (CI) and examining heterogeneity with I2 statistic. Publication bias was evaluated with funnel plot. There were 15 relevant studies (1720 women participants in total with 153 obese and 1567 class III obese women). Of these, 8 (53.3%) studies complied with >4 quality items. Overall prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions was 62% (95% CI 55–68%; I2 85.5%). Among obese women the prevalence was 69% (95% CI 55–80%; I2 73.8%) vs 59% (95% CI 52–66%; I2 87.5%) among those class III obese (subgroup difference p = 0.15). Among high quality studies the prevalence was 54% (95% CI 50–60%; I2 46.8%) vs 72% (95% CI 61–81%; I2 88.0%) among low quality studies (subgroup difference p = 0.002). There was no funnel asymmetry. We interpreted that the rate of sexual dysfunctions is high in obese and class III obese women. Obesity should be regarded as a risk factor for female sexual dysfunctions.",

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note = "Funding Information: KSK is Distinguished Investigator at University of Granada funded by the Beatriz Galindo (senior modality) Program of the Spanish Ministry of Education. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Sociedad Espa{\~n}ola de M{\'e}dicos de Atenci{\'o}n Primaria (SEMERGEN)",

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AU - Khan, K. S.

AU - Zamora, Javier

AU - Jurado López, A. R.

AU - Fragoso Pasero, M.

AU - Suárez Fernández, C.

N1 - Funding Information: KSK is Distinguished Investigator at University of Granada funded by the Beatriz Galindo (senior modality) Program of the Spanish Ministry of Education. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN)

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AB - Obesity represents a major global health challenge. Female sexual dysfunctions have a negative impact on quality of life and overall health balance. A higher rate of female sexual dysfunctions in obese women has been suggested. This systematic review summarized the literature on female sexual dysfunction prevalence in obese women. The review was registered (Open Science Framework OSF.IO/7CG95) and a literature search without language restrictions was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, from January 1990 to December 2021. Cross-sectional and intervention studies were included, the latter if they provided female sexual dysfunction rate data in obese women prior to the intervention. For inclusion, studies should have used the female sexual function index or its simplified version. Study quality was assessed to evaluate if female sexual function index was properly applied using six items. Rates of female sexual dysfunctions examining for differences between obese vs class III obese and high vs low quality subgroups were summarized. Random effects meta-analysis was performed, calculating 95% confidence intervals (CI) and examining heterogeneity with I2 statistic. Publication bias was evaluated with funnel plot. There were 15 relevant studies (1720 women participants in total with 153 obese and 1567 class III obese women). Of these, 8 (53.3%) studies complied with >4 quality items. Overall prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions was 62% (95% CI 55–68%; I2 85.5%). Among obese women the prevalence was 69% (95% CI 55–80%; I2 73.8%) vs 59% (95% CI 52–66%; I2 87.5%) among those class III obese (subgroup difference p = 0.15). Among high quality studies the prevalence was 54% (95% CI 50–60%; I2 46.8%) vs 72% (95% CI 61–81%; I2 88.0%) among low quality studies (subgroup difference p = 0.002). There was no funnel asymmetry. We interpreted that the rate of sexual dysfunctions is high in obese and class III obese women. Obesity should be regarded as a risk factor for female sexual dysfunctions.

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KW - Prevalence

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AN - SCOPUS:85162120043

SN - 1138-3593

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JO - Medicina de Familia - SEMERGEN

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ER -

Obesity and female sexual dysfunctions: A systematic review of prevalence with meta-analysis

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this