Objectives: Female sexual dysfunction is highly common, but its etiology and contributive factors are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between arterial health and female sexual function in late middle-aged women.

Study Design: The cross-sectional study consisting 117 women (age range 60-64 years) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging study.

Main Outcome Measures: Arterial health was assessed by measuring Pulse wave velocity (PWV), Ankle-brachial index (ABI), blood pressure and pulse pressure. Sexual function was measured with Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) -questionnaire, which consisted of a total score and 5 sub-scores. Associations were examined in multivariable regression analyses, which were adjusted with relationship happiness, menopausal hormone therapy, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index and depressive symptoms.

Results: Higher ABI was associated with higher sexual satisfaction (β=2.135, p=0.012). Furthermore, higher diastolic blood pressure was associated with higher total FSFI score (β=0.213, p=0.013) and with higher desire (β=0.020, p=0.008), arousal (β=0.037, p=0.034), satisfaction (β=0.025, p=0.026) and pain (β=0.050, p=0.018) sub-scores. Additionally, higher pulse pressure was associated with lower orgasm score (β=-0.031, p=0.037). No relationship between PWV or systolic blood pressure and sexual function was observed.

Conclusions: Better arterial health, measured by ABI, diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure, were found to be associated with better female sexual function. Our findings suggest an importance of peripheral arterial health for female sexual function.