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.