The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related quarantine on female sexual behavior: a cross-sectional study in China

To investigate the impact and factors of home quarantine life on women’s sexual lives and behaviors in different areas of China and analyze the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed adult women who had a regular sexual life (including regular masturbation) and had been isolated at home for at least one month during the COVID-19 outbreak using online questionnaires. This survey recovered 678 complete questionnaires after screening. According to the findings, the overall score of the Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) during the pandemic was 21.98 ± 6.38, the frequency of FSD was 61.9%, and the frequencies of FSD in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Ningxia were 60.6%, 75.2%, and 52.2%, respectively. The frequency of FSFI scores and other specific items (Desire, Arousal, Lubrication, Orgasm, Satisfaction, and Pain) varied significantly across the three regions ( P