THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USE AND FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS

This study aimed to investigate the association between the use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and the presence of sexual dysfunction in a group of Brazilian women aged 20 to 39, sexually active with male partners. To this end, a cross-sectional, descriptive/analytical online survey was cond...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Tiburtino, Donária Eva Almeida, Fernandes, Clarissa Queiroz Bezerra de Araújo, Araújo, Matheus Silva, Bezerra, Giorgi Bella Varga Nobre
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2025
Country:Brasil
Institution:Sociedade Brasileira de Estudos em Sexualidade Humana (SBRASH)
Repository:Revista Brasileira de Sexualidade Humana (Online)
Language:Portuguese
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.rbsh.org.br:article/1242
Online Access:https://www.rbsh.org.br/revista_sbrash/article/view/1242
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Anticoncepcionais orais combinados
Disfunção sexual feminina
Contracepção hormonal
Combined oral contraceptives
Female sexual dysfunction
Hormonal contraception
Anticonceptivos orales combinados
Disfunción sexual femenina
Anticoncepción hormonal
Description
Summary:This study aimed to investigate the association between the use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and the presence of sexual dysfunction in a group of Brazilian women aged 20 to 39, sexually active with male partners. To this end, a cross-sectional, descriptive/analytical online survey was conducted. The online form included the questionnaire for sociodemographic, biological, gynecological, and obstetric data collection, along with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to identify sexual dysfunction. The results indicated a reduction in desire scores among COC users compared to non-users, while the orgasm domain scored higher for pill users. Pearson’s Chi-square Test showed no statistically significant evidence of an association between COC use and an increased risk of female sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, the strength of the association between the two variables was, at most, moderate. Finally, for a more accurate analysis of the impact of COC use on the sexual experiences of Brazilian women, it is important to evaluate other factors potentially related to the etiology of sexual dysfunction.