Survey study, 2021
Do premenstrual symptoms affect sexual desire?
Sexual desire is linked to some premenstrual symptoms, particularly back pain, painful periods, and mood changes. Sexual desire was not clearly linked to other symptoms like headaches or breast tenderness.
What they did
A survey of 200 young married women in Iraq (ages 17-31) assessed sexual desire using a standardized inventory and asked about common premenstrual symptoms.
What they found
Sexual desire was significantly linked to back pain, painful periods, and mood instability. Sexual desire was not significantly linked to breast tenderness, headaches, irritability, sadness, feeling alone, bloating, vaginal pain, or vaginal dryness.
What it means for you
Some premenstrual symptoms may affect sexual desire, particularly those that cause pain or mood changes. Other symptoms do not appear to affect sexual desire in this population. The study only included married women in Iraq, so findings may not apply to single women or women in other countries. The study cannot prove symptoms cause changes in sexual desire, only that they are linked.
200
women in study
17-31
age range of participants
3
symptom types linked to sexual desire
About the study
- Original title
- Relationship between sexual desire and premenstrual syndrome in young women in Iraq
- Authors
- Miaad Jasim Mohammed
- Journal
- Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
- Year
- 2021
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 200
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v15i1.13591
Topics
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