Sexual Function and Correlates in Women Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis in Cameroon: A Multi-centric Study

Purpose of The Study: The aim of this study was to describe sexual function disorders and investigate associated factors in women on maintenance hemodialysis in Cameroon. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of three months duration (August-October 2014) in adult women on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) at three HD facilities in Cameroon. Patients with active psychiatric disease, infection or uncontrolled congestive heart failure were excluded. We use the Rosen questionnaire for evaluating female sexual function (FSFI), the Beck depression Inventory (BDI) and the short form (SF-36) of WHOQOL- BREF questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life (QOL). Logistic regressions were used to investigate the predictors of sexual function disorders. Results: We included 52 women with the mean age of 38±13 years (min-max: 18-69), with 31 (62%) being of child-bearing age (18-44 years). All participants had at least one sexual function abnormality including sexual dysfunction (75%), abnormalities of the menstrual cycle (83%), and sexual inactivity (30%). In women of child-bearing age, reported menstrual disorders were: irregular menses (45%), non-gravid amenorrhea (40%), oligo-menorrhea (25%), poly-menorrhea (25%), metrorrhagia (6%), and menorrhagia (3%). Ten of the 31 women had more than one menstrual disorder. Sexual dysfunction included: decreased sexual desire (56%), decreased sexual arousal (39%), decreased vaginal lubrication (49%), and failure to achieve orgasm (46%), sexual dissatisfaction (51%), and dyspareunia (36%). Advanced age ( p = 0.0046), depression ( p<0.0001), anemia ( p=0.0005) and poor quality of life were negatively associated with sexual dysfunction. Sexual inactivity ( p = 0.035) was equally associated with poor quality of life. Conclusion: Our results suggest that disorders of sexual function are common in women on maintenance hemodialysis, and are associated with depression, poor quality of life, advanced age, and anemia.