Sexual dysfunction and quality of life in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes mellitus: clinical and laboratory factors

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in postmenopausal women with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its relationship with clinical, laboratory and socioeconomic parameters and quality of life (QoL). METHOD: This cross-sectional study enrolled postmenopausal women with and without T2D not taking hormone replacement. Clinical and laboratory factors were assessed, and participants answered cardiovascular risk, socioeconomic, Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires. RESULTS: = 110) were similar in age, marital status, race/ethnicity, employment status, alcohol use and body mass index. Women with T2D showed higher glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol, thyroid-stimulating hormone and cardiovascular risk factors. SF-36 scores were significantly lower in women with T2D and sexual dysfunction compared to those without diabetes. FSFI scores below 26.55 were associated with higher odds of FSD with increasing age, whereas vitality showed an inverse association. CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal women with T2D, reduced FSFI scores along with hypertension, hypothyroidism and elevated cardiometabolic risk were linked to poorer QoL. Age increased the odds of FSD, while vitality decreased them. These results underscore the multifactorial interaction of T2D, comorbidities and menopause in women's sexual health and well-being.