© 2006 International Society for Sexual Medicine J Sex Med 2007;4:311–321 311 Blackwell Publishing IncMalden, USAJSMJournal of Sexual Medicine1743-6095(c) 2006 International Society for Sexual Medicine200642311321Original Article Sexual Dysfunction in Malaysian WomenSidi et al. ORIGINAL RESEARCH—EPIDEMIOLOGY The Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction and Potential Risk Factors That May Impair Sexual Function in Malaysian Women Hatta Sidi, MD,* Sharifah Ezat Wan Puteh, MD, † Norni Abdullah, MD, ‡ and Marhani Midin, MD* *Department of Psychiatry, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, † Community Medicine, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and ‡ Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2006.00319.x ABSTRACT Introduction. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a prevalent sexual health problem that does not spare the women in Malaysia, a nation with a conservative multiethnic society. Aim. To investigate the prevalence of FSD and the potential risk factors that may impair sexual function among women at a primary care setting in Malaysia. Main Outcome Measure. The prevalence, the risk factors, and the main predictors for FSD were measured among these women. Methods. A validated Malay version of the Female Sexual Function Index was used to assess FSD. A total of 230 married women aged 18–70 years participated in this study. The sociodemographic and marital profiles of women who had FSD and those who did not were compared; the risk factors for FSD were determined. Results. The majority of the respondents were younger than 50 years old, predominantly Malays, and had a higher academic achievement. The prevalence of FSD in the primary care population was 29.6%. The prevalence of women with lack of orgasms, low sexual arousal, lack of lubrication, sexual dissatisfaction, and sexual pain were 59.1%, 60.9%, 50.4%, 52.2%, and 67.8%, respectively. Conclusion. The risk factors for FSD are older age, Malays, married longer (more than 14 years), having less sexual intercourse (less than 1–2 times a week), having more children, married to an older husband (aged >42 years), and having a higher academic status. Lack of lubrication is found to be the main predictor for FSD in this study. Is lack of lubrication a cause or a complication of FSD? Prospective research is needed in the near future. Sidi H, Puteh SEW, Abdullah N, and Midin M. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction and potential risk factors that may impair sexual function in Malaysian women. J Sex Med 2007;4:311–321. Key Words. Sexual Dysfunction; Potential Risk Factors; Malaysian Women Introduction exual dysfunctions are characterized by dis- turbances in the processes of a normal sexual response cycle and by pain associated with sexual intercourse [1–3]. Particularly in women, any one or more of the domains that include sexual inter- est/desire, sexual arousal (and lubrication), and orgasm could be affected [2,3]. Sexual dysfunction in women, better known as female sexual dysfunc- S tion (FSD), is a multifactorial condition with ana- tomical, physiological, medical, psychological, and social components [4,5]. Cultural and religious factors also play an important role in the develop- ment and progression of FSD [6]. FSD may lead to interpersonal difficulties, marital discord and divorce, reproductive difficulties, as well as reduced quality of life [7,8]. Female sexual dysfunction is found to be highly prevalent in many countries, ranging from 25% to