AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

To examine sexual lives of women with diabetes mellitus (type 2) (DM) and impact of culture on solution for problemsrelated to sexual life.

BACKGROUND:

DM has long been considered a risk factor for sexual dysfunction in men and women, although the evidence in women is less clear. This study was conducted to emphasise the effect of DM and culture on sexual life.

DESIGN:

A descriptive and qualitative study.

METHODS:

Planned as descriptive and qualitative, this study was conducted with 38 women who matched with the following inclusion criterion: living in a neighbourhood with low socio-economic status in the province of Kayseri, Turkey. The Participant Information Form, Diabetes Control Form, the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), Sexual Life Definition Form and Semi-Structured Interview Form for revealing problems lived in sexual life, besides the results of laboratory tests, were used for data collection.

RESULTS:

Mean age of the participating women was 51·34 ± 5·85 years. Total score of ASEX was found to be correlated with the type of DM treatment, duration of DM diagnosis, complications of DM, relation with her husband, level of HbA1c and systolic-diastolic blood pressure (p < 0·05). Of the participating women, 47·4% expressed that they had problems with sexual relation.

CONCLUSION:

Most of the women with DM were determined to have problems in sexual functions besides the disease, and the impact of culture on the solution for problems lived within sexual life was effective.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE:

These findings can help guide to raise the health of Turkish women with diabetes and to plan appropriate nursing interventions.