Sexual health and gender perspective among female physicians: a cross-sectional analytic study.

Sexual health is considered to be an integral component of overall well-being by the World Health Organization, yet this domain is often overlooked in female physicians. This study aimed to evaluate the sexual health of female physicians and examine how gender perceptions and gender role attitudes are associated with sexual functioning. This cross-sectional analytic study included 348 female physicians recruited through a closed professional all-female social media group used for communication, support, and professional interaction. Participants completed an online sociodemographic questionnaire, the gender perception scale (GPS), the gender roles attitude scale (GRAS), and the female sexual function index (FSFI). Pearson correlation, independent-samples t tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Participants had a mean age of 37.04 ± 6.59 years. Among sexually active women (n = 315), the median intercourse frequency was 4 (IQR 4–8) times per month. Higher GPS scores were significantly associated with non-smoking status (P = .001), active employment (P < .05), and older age (r = .162, P = .003). Higher FSFI total scores were associated with being married (P = .012), having a non-smoking spouse (P = .008), having ≥ 2 pregnancies (P = .021), using contraception (P = .030), and higher intercourse frequency (r = .281, P < .001). A positive correlation was found between the FSFI desire subscale and the GRAS traditional gender role subscale (r = .118, P = .032), while the FSFI satisfaction subscale showed a negative correlation with the GRAS male gender role subscale (r = − .129, P = .018). Although female physicians have health knowledge and access to healthcare, which gives them an advantage, three out of four were at high risk of sexual dysfunction, according to FSFI scores. Compared with previous reports in national, population-based studies, female physicians demonstrated more egalitarian gender perceptions, although their attitudes towards gender roles remained somewhat traditional. Their traditional gender roles were found to significantly impact sexual desire and satisfaction.