Early Life Sexual Trauma and Later Life Genitourinary Dysfunction and Functional Disability in Women

Overview

Journal J Gen Intern Med

Publisher Springer

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2020 Sep 3

PMID 32875503

Citations 4

Authors

Pooja Lalchandani

Nadra Lisha

Carolyn Gibson

Alison J Huang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Past research has examined the health outcomes of early sexual trauma in reproductive age women, but little is known about potential long-term effects in older age.

Objective: To examine associations between early life sexual trauma and later life sexual/genitourinary dysfunction and general functional disability in women.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative observational data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (2010-2011) PARTICIPANTS: One thousand seven hundred forty-five US women aged ≥ 50 years MAIN MEASURES: Two forms of early life sexual trauma (childhood sexual abuse and unwanted first sexual experience), sexual/genitourinary dysfunction (pain during sex, lack of pleasure during sex, urinary incontinence, other urinary symptoms), and general functional disability (difficulty performing 7 activities of daily living (ADLs) or 8 instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)), assessed by interview and questionnaire.

Key Results: Of 1745 women, 11% reported a history of childhood sexual abuse and 39% an unwanted first sexual experience. Childhood sexual abuse was associated with later life sexual/genitourinary dysfunction (pain during sex [OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.3], other urinary problems [OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.1]), and difficulty with multiple ADLs/IADLs (walking across the room [OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.1], getting in or out of bed [OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3], bathing [OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.5], prepping meals [OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.5-3.8], shopping for food [OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.4], and completing light work [OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.4]), after adjusting for age, race, and education. Unwanted first sexual experience was associated with later life lack of pleasure with sex (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.5) and difficulty with ADLs/IADLs (walking one block [OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1], completing light work [OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.1]) in adjusted analyses.

Conclusions: Early sexual trauma may be an under-recognized marker of risk of aging-related functional decline in women. Findings underline the importance of providing trauma-informed care for women across the aging spectrum.

Citing Articles

Compulsive sexual behavior, sexual functioning problems, and their linkages to substance use among German medical students: exploring the role of sex and trauma exposure.

Jepsen D, Luck T, Heckel C, Niemann J, Winter K, Watzke S Front Psychol. 2024; 15:1423690.

PMID: 39712546 PMC: 11661911. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1423690.

Study protocol: Hypersexual and hyposexual behavior among adults diagnosed with alcohol- and substance use disorders-Associations between traumatic experiences and problematic sexual behavior.

Jepsen D, Luck T, Bernard M, Moor I, Watzke S Front Psychiatry. 2023; 14:1088747.

PMID: 37009122 PMC: 10061101. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1088747.

Sex Differences in Health Conditions Associated with Sexual Assault in a Large Hospital Population.

Lake A, Goleva S, Samuels L, Carpenter L, Davis L Complex Psychiatry. 2023; 8(3-4):80-89.

PMID: 36660008 PMC: 10288064. DOI: 10.1159/000527363.

Systematic review exploring the relationship between sexual abuse and lower urinary tract symptoms.

Selai C, Elmalem M, Chartier-Kastler E, Sassoon N, Hewitt S, Rocha M Int Urogynecol J. 2022; 34(3):635-653.

PMID: 35751671 PMC: 9947020. DOI: 10.1007/s00192-022-05277-4.

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