Introduction
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is defined as recurrent or permanent inability or difficulty in sexual desire and arousal, inability to reach orgasm, and genital pain during sexual intercourse.1According to The National Health and Social Life Survey, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women is 43%, while 31% in men.2 Despite its high prevalence in women, the underlying mechanisms of sexual dysfunction are less understood. There are many physiological, anatomical, psychological and social factors in the etiology of FSD, which negatively affect the quality of life (QOL).3 Diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, previous pelvic surgeries, drugs, alcohol and smoking may cause FSD by leading to impairment in vascular, hormonal and neurological balances.4
There are several hypotheses on the pathophysiological effects of smoking on sexual dysfunction. Disruption in vascular endothelium and formation of atherosclerosis due to smoking impair vascularity. In addition, the increase of free oxygen radicals in the circulation causes a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, which is the main regulator released from endothelial cells, mediates vascular events and plays a role in smooth muscle relaxation .5-7 While all the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in smoking-induced sexual dysfunction have been studied very well in men with erectile dysfunction (ED); there are not enough studies regarding to these mechanisms in FSD.
Smoking negatively affects the sexual functions and impairs the QOL by leading to ED in men. There are many studies in the literature showing that male sexual dysfunction and QOL improves after smoking cessation.8-10 However, unlike men, there are few studies evaluating the effects of smoking on sexual health in women.11 And there is no study evaluated the effects of smoking cessation on both female sexual dysfunction and QOL.
In this study we aimed to present the negative effects of smoking on FSD and health related QOL and to evaluate the effects of smoking cessation on FSD and health related QOL in women.