Abstract
We interviewed and examined 293 married women, 15–49 years of age, seeking primary care at a teaching hospital in central Nigeria. One or more sexual problems were identified in 71% of women. The proportion of specific sexual problems was 39% for a desire problem, 40% for an arousal problem, 31% for a sex pain problem and 55% for an orgasmic problem. Poor marital communication, lack of foreplay, Islamic religion and advancing age were independently associated with a desire problem. Absence of foreplay was independently associated with an arousal problem. Lack of foreplay, lower abdominal pain, gynaecological conditions, working outside the home and younger age were independently associated with a sex pain problem. The absence of foreplay, poor marital communication and being a housewife were independently associated with an orgasmic problem. Sexual problems are common among married Nigerian women seeking outpatient care.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 8 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $32.38 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nusbaum MR, Hamilton CD . The proactive sexual health history. Am Fam Physician 2002; 66: 1705–1712.
Ramage M . ABC of sexual problems: management of sexual problems. BMJ 1998; 317: 1509–1512.
Lewin J, King M . Sexual medicine. BMJ 1997; 314: 1432.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association: Washington, DC, 2000.
Butcher J . ABC of sexual health: female sexual problems I: loss of desire – what about the fun? BMJ 1999; 318: 41–43.
Butcher J . ABC of sexual health: female sexual problems II: sexual pain and sexual fears. BMJ 1999; 318: 110–112.
Phillips NA . Female sexual dysfunction: evaluation and treatment. Am Fam Physician 2000; 62: 127–136, 141–122.
Newman K, Helzner JF . IPPF charter on sexual and reproductive rights. international planned parenthood federation. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 1999; 8: 459–463.
Nusbaum MR, Hamilton C, Lenahan P . Chronic illness and sexual functioning. Am Fam Physician 2003; 67: 347–354.
Dean J . ABC of sexual health: examination of patients with sexual problems. BMJ 1998; 317: 1641–1643.
Slap GB, Lot L, Huang B, Daniyam CA, Zink TM, Succop PA . Sexual behaviour of adolescents in Nigeria: cross sectional survey of secondary school students. BMJ 2003; 326: 15.
Araoye MO, Fakeye OO . Sexuality and contraception among Nigerian adolescents and youth. Afr J Reprod Health 1998; 2: 142–150.
Nazareth I, Boynton P, King M . Problems with sexual function in people attending London general practitioners: cross sectional study. BMJ 2003; 327: 423.
Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AM, Rissel CE . Sex in Australia: sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults. Aust NZ J Public Health 2003; 27: 164–170.
Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC . Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999; 281: 537–544.
Oksuz E, Malhan S . Prevalence and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction in Turkish women. J Urol 2006; 175: 654–658; discussion 658.
Safarinejad MR . Female sexual dysfunction in a population-based study in Iran: prevalence and associated risk factors. Int J Impot Res 2006; 18: 382–395.
Lau JT, Cheng Y, Wang Q, Yang X . Prevalence and correlates of sexual dysfunction among young adult married women in rural China: a population-based study. Int J Impot Res 2006; 18: 89–97.
Basson R, Leiblum S, Brotto L, Derogatis L, Fourcroy J, Fugl-Meyer K et al. Revised definitions of women's sexual dysfunction. J Sex Med 2004; 1: 40–48.
Barden-O'Fallon J, Tsui A, Adewuyi A . Social and proximate determinants of sexual activity in rural Nigeria. J Biosoc Sci 2003; 35: 585–599.
Lawoyin TO, Larsen U . Male sexual behaviour during wife's pregnancy and postpartum abstinence period in Oyo State, Nigeria. J Biosoc Sci 2002; 34: 51–63.
Basson R . Recent advances in women's sexual function and dysfunction. Menopause 2004; 11: 714–725.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ojomu, F., Thacher, T. & Obadofin, M. Sexual problems among married Nigerian women. Int J Impot Res 19, 310–316 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901524
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901524
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Predictors of female sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and qualitative analysis through gender inequality paradigms
BMC Women's Health (2018)
-
Personal factors that contribute to or impair women’s ability to achieve orgasm
International Journal of Impotence Research (2014)
-
Prevalence and risk factors for female sexual dysfunction among Egyptian women
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2013)