Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,203 studies31 sourcesUpdated 15 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

Sexual function in women with a history of sexual assault: A cross‐sectional study

  • Sigrid Bergsmyr1
  • Signe Nilssen Stafne2,3
  • Cecilie Therese Hagemann3,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
  2. 2Department of Rehabilitation, St. Olavs Hospital Trondheim University Hospital Trondheim Norway
  3. 3Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
  4. 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Olavs Hospital Trondheim University Hospital Trondheim Norway
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Introduction: There is inconsistency in the literature regarding how a history of sexual assault influences adult sexual function. Our objective was to investigate the association between a history of sexual assault (as a child, as an adult, or both) vs. no history of sexual assault and various aspects of sexual function, including sexual activity, overall sexual function, and specific subdomains such as desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.

Material and Methods: For this cross‐sectional descriptive study, 397 women (47% response rate) answered an online survey targeting validation of a pelvic pain questionnaire. Sexual function was measured using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). History of sexual assault, demographic, gynecological, and other health‐related variables were collected. Comparisons were done by chi square, variance, and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results: Of the 394 participants, 38 (9.6%) reported child sexual assault, 56 (14.2%) adult sexual assault, and 26 (6.6%) both child and adult sexual assault. Sexual activity did not differ between groups. Among the 261 sexually active participants, the total FSFI mean score was 26.4 (standard deviation 5.5). Women reporting adult sexual assault or both child and adult sexual assault had lower total FSFI mean scores than those reporting child sexual assault only or no history of sexual assault (p = 0.005). The same pattern was observed for the arousal (p = 0.008) and orgasm (p = 0.003) subdomains. In contrast, lower pain subdomain scores were reported by women with a history of child sexual assault or both child and adult sexual assault (p = 0.005). After adjustment for potential confounders, only adult sexual assault was associated with low overall sexual function (adjusted odds ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.2–5.2).

Conclusions: Our findings confirm the previously demonstrated association between a history of adult sexual assault and low overall sexual function. However, the different exposures seem to relate differently to the various dimensions of sexual functioning. It is essential that healthcare professionals treating individuals with pelvic pain or diminished sexual function remain vigilant to the potential impact of sexual assault history and are encouraged to address this issue proactively and sensitively in clinical practice.

Related

  1. Sexual Function and Psychological Distress Across Surveillance, Colposcopy, and LEEP in Women with a History of High-Risk HPV Positivity: A Cross-Sectional Study
    Journal of clinical medicinePeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  2. Sexual function problems, sexual distress, and operationally defined female sexual dysfunction among women with infertility in southern Iran: a cross-sectional study
    Maryam Azizi Kutenaee, Razie Toghroli, Shokrollah Mohseni +4
    Scientific ReportsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textPsychiatry & mental healthCrossref
  3. Sexual function, psychological distress, and health-related quality of life in HPV-positive women with and without LEEP: a cross-sectional comparative study
    Şahin Yüksek, Hasan Turan, Numan Bilgiç +3
    Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and GynecologyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textEpidemiology & public healthDOAJ
  4. Unveiling dynamics of drug-facilitated sexual assault: an observational retrospective study in Barcelona (2018–2022)
    Aina Camps, Emilio Salgado, Lluïsa García-Esteve +2
    BMC Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Epidemiology & public healthCrossref
  5. Associations of hirsutism and sexual function with mental health–related quality of life in women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome
    Müjde Canday, Aslıhan Yurtkal, Tural Ismayilov
    Scientific ReportsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textObstetrics, gynaecology & paediatricsCrossref

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{bergsmyr2026sexual,
  title = {{Sexual function in women with a history of sexual assault: A cross‐sectional study}},
  author = {Sigrid Bergsmyr and Signe Nilssen Stafne and Cecilie Therese Hagemann},
  journal = {Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1111/aogs.70314},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.70314},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Sexual function in women with a history of sexual assault: A cross‐sectional study
AU  - Sigrid Bergsmyr
AU  - Signe Nilssen Stafne
AU  - Cecilie Therese Hagemann
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/21
JO  - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
DO  - 10.1111/aogs.70314
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.70314
AB  - Introduction: There is inconsistency in the literature regarding how a history of sexual assault influences adult sexual function. Our objective was to investigate the association between a history of sexual assault (as a child, as an adult, or both) vs. no history of sexual assault and various aspects of sexual function, including sexual activity, overall sexual function, and specific subdomains such as desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.  Material and Methods: For this cross‐sectional descriptive study, 397 women (47% response rate) answered an online survey targeting validation of a pelvic pain questionnaire. Sexual function was measured using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). History of sexual assault, demographic, gynecological, and other health‐related variables were collected. Comparisons were done by chi square, variance, and multiple logistic regression analyses.  Results: Of the 394 participants, 38 (9.6%) reported child sexual assault, 56 (14.2%) adult sexual assault, and 26 (6.6%) both child and adult sexual assault. Sexual activity did not differ between groups. Among the 261 sexually active participants, the total FSFI mean score was 26.4 (standard deviation 5.5). Women reporting adult sexual assault or both child and adult sexual assault had lower total FSFI mean scores than those reporting child sexual assault only or no history of sexual assault (p = 0.005). The same pattern was observed for the arousal (p = 0.008) and orgasm (p = 0.003) subdomains. In contrast, lower pain subdomain scores were reported by women with a history of child sexual assault or both child and adult sexual assault (p = 0.005). After adjustment for potential confounders, only adult sexual assault was associated with low overall sexual function (adjusted odds ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.2–5.2).  Conclusions: Our findings confirm the previously demonstrated association between a history of adult sexual assault and low overall sexual function. However, the different exposures seem to relate differently to the various dimensions of sexual functioning. It is essential that healthcare professionals treating individuals with pelvic pain or diminished sexual function remain vigilant to the potential impact of sexual assault history and are encouraged to address this issue proactively and sensitively in clinical practice.
SN  - 0001-6349
SN  - 1600-0412
ER  -