Female Sexual Dysfunction Across the Female Lifespan: The Impact of Menopause, Pelvic Floor Disorders, and Pelvic Surgery

Female sexual dysfunction is a multifactorial condition influenced by biological, psychological, relational, and sociocultural factors that can compromise sexual well-being. It is a prevalent condition, affecting nearly 40% of the global female population. Furthermore, problems related to desire, arousal and orgasm have an impact on 12% of women across the lifespan. Despite the high prevalence of this issue and its harmful impact on mental health and vitality, a considerable number of women do not seek medical care. Another issue is the lack of physicians specialising in sexual health problems. Indeed, female sexual dysfunction is often misdiagnosed, and even when identification is successful, treatment is not always appropriate. This narrative review aims to address female sexual dysfunction in relation to menopause, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, postpartum changes, and pelvic floor surgery. It provides a comprehensive overview of these conditions, focusing on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, their impact on female sexual health, and the available preventive strategies for their management.