Factors associated with determinants of sexual functioning in midlife women

Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the associations between a woman's passionate love for her partner and sexual satisfaction and demographic factors, health and life-style characteristics, menopausal status, and menopausal symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among women (40-60 years) residing in Maryland (n = 846). χ²-tests were performed to evaluate the associations between each of the outcome variables (sexual satisfaction and passionate love for the partner) and predictor/independent variables. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether significant associations from χ² analyses remained significant after adjustment for confounders. Results: Older age (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 1.07), higher education (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.09, 1.99), and alcohol intake (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.03, 1.95) were associated with low passion for the partner. Older age was also a significant predictor of low sexual satisfaction (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01, 1.07). Women experiencing vaginal dryness had higher odds of low passion for partner (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.21, 1.31) and low sexual satisfaction (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.14, 2.20) than women not experiencing vaginal dryness. Conclusions: Older age, higher education, alcohol intake, and vaginal dryness are significantly associated with lower levels of passionate love for the partner, while older age and vaginal dryness are significantly associated with lower levels of sexual satisfaction in midlife women.