The female pelvic floor muscles (PFM) play an important role in sexual function. We hypothesized that PFM strength can play an important role in some aspects of female sexual function like orgarsm, motivating us to further investigate PFM strength in women with (with_SD) and without sexual dysfunction (without_SD).

Retrospective multicentric cross-sectional study including women with and without sexual dysfunction (Female Sexual Function Index - FSFI cutoff point <26.55), over 18 years old, analyzed by age range, considering demographic, clinical, anthropometric and PFM strength (Modified Oxford Scale - MOS) data. The statistical analysis was performed from the data obtained in the following statistical tests: Chi-square and Mann-Whitney. Linear regression analysis was used for the study of clinical, demographic and anthropometric data, in relation to the FSFI total score, as well as the relation between age, muscle strength and the FSFI domains The data were transformed in ranks and the level of significance adopted for this study was 5% (SAS.9.4).

Out of 1013 medical records, 982 women with an average age of 45.76 (±15.25) were included in the study. Of these, 679 (69.14%) presented FSFI score <26.55, while 303 (30.86%) presented FSFI ≥26.55. Table 1 presents the relation between age range and PFM strength (MOS) analyzed by univariate linear regression, considering the FSFI domains.The analysis identified that women over the age of 46 have a lower score in relation to all domains of the FSFI and that those with MOS: 4-5 have better sexual function, especially in the domains of desire, arousal, lubrication and orgasm. Higher scores in the satisfaction and pain domains were observed in women with MOS between 3 and 5. 
The FSFI total score was related to demographic and anthropometric characteristics analyzed by univariate and multivariate linear regression (Table 2).Univariate linear regression showed that single women, with higher education, body mass index <25 kg / m² and lower parity had higher scores on the FSFI. In multivariate linear regression white women, <45 years old, family income >4 minimum wages and regular physical activity practitioners also showed better sexual function.

Our study identified the relation between sexual function and muscle strength in women of different ages. We observed that women without_SD, identified by FSFI total score ≥26.55, presented higher PFM strength in relation to women with_SD. Similarly, women with higher PFM strength presented lower scores in all FSFI domains.

Based on our results we can conclude that demographic, clinical and anthropometric conditions can influence both PFM strength and female sexual function. Our findings demonstrate that women with higher PFM strength presented less complaints of sexual dysfunction.