On sexual well-being in sexually abused Swedish women: Epidemiological aspects

In this epidemiological report the aim was to describe the prevalence of sexual abuse--defined situationally by the woman as being forced by another person into a situation or act that she perceives as sexual--in a national representative sample of 1335 Swedish women aged 18-74, and to relate occurrence of sexual abuse to level of sexual function and to sexual satisfaction. Data were gathered using a combination of strictly structured questionnaires/check-lists filled in by respondents during a face-to-face interview. The main results are that at least 12% of Swedish women have been sexually abused at least once in their lifetime, the most common types of abuse being vaginal penetration and genital manipulation by the perpetrator. Fifty percent of the abused women had been abused more than once. Nearly all reported types of sexual abuse were significantly associated with a relatively low level of orgasm, and also, but less systematically, with other sexual dysfunctions. The sexually abused women and in particular those abused more than once, reported a significantly lower level of sexual well-being than did non-abused women. It is concluded that sexually abused Swedish women are at high risk of future sexual maladaptation concerning sexual functions and sexual well-being.