Etiological Factors Affecting Female Sexuality: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Evidence suggests that masturbation, genital stimulation, body awareness and movement, pelvic floor exercises, depression, anxiety, positive and negative feelings, personality type, emotional and overall well-being and emotional intelligence have been studied in association with female orgasm through the years. Additionally, healthcare providers of sexual health and most women lack information regarding sexual satisfaction and reaching orgasm. Few studies have addressed this issue.

Aim: To systematically study the effect of social, behavioral, and psychological factors on female orgasm.

Methods: An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar and Scopus, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Statement (PRISMA) guidelines, for relevant articles published between June 2002 and June 2022. Studies in languages other than English were excluded. The following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms were used: female, orgasm, psychological, behavioral, social, sexual. Inclusion criteria concerned studies that sampled adult healthy women, used quantitative methodology and explored factors influencing sexual satisfaction. 

Results: Out of 531 studies, forty-five were further screened. A total of twenty-one studies were reviewed, most of which were conducted in the USA, Portugal and the United Kingdom. They were followed by Switzerland, Iran, Brazil, Sweden, Canada, Hungary and the Netherlands. Four major themes influencing female sexual satisfaction emerged from the synthesis: psychological disorders, psychological background, genital stimulation, body awareness and movement.

Conclusions: The female orgasm was influenced by a number of factors, some of which adversely affected it.