Funcionamento sexual e ciclo-de-vida em mulheres portuguesas

the purpose of this study was to investigate changes in sexual function across the life span in a sample of portuguese women, and the prevalence of sexual problems. the study consisted of a sample of 154 portuguese women (range 26 to 70 years), divided into three groups according to their ages: 26-35 years (n=66), 40-49 years (n=45), and 54-70 years (n=43). the evaluation was carried out with two self-report questionnaires: the female sexual function index (fsfi; rosen et al., 2000), with it’s domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain, and with the index of sexual satisfaction (iss; hudson et al., 1981), that measures couple sexual satisfaction. no differences were found between the 26-35 years group and the 40-49 years group regarding the fsfi and it’s domains, and the iss. when comparing the first two groups with the 54-70 years group statistically significant differences were found in the fsfi total score and in it’s domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction; no differences were found in the pain domain. statistically significant differences were also found in the iss total score. there is a significant decline in female sexual function and in sexual satisfaction associated with older age and menopause.