SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR PATTERNS IN CHILEAN WOMEN

Background: Sexuality has an individual connotation, is influenced by biological, environmental and cultural factors and is present througho ut all life. Aim: To assess the sexual behavior of a group of Chilean women. Subjects and methods: A specially devised inquiry was applied t o 301 women, aged 20 to 70 years old, that consulted in a medical serv ice. Results: Seventy seven percent of women were sexually active. The se figures ranged from 80% of women aged 40-44 years old to 40% of wom en over 60. Sixty percent of women living together, 53.7% of single wo men, 65.6% of divorced women, 94.2% of married women and 100% of widow s were sexually active. Women aged 25 to 29 years old bad a mean of 8. 4 relations per month compared with 3.3 relations among women older th an 55. The frequency of sexual intercourse was higher in women living together and lower in widows. The mean age at the first intercourse wa s 20.6 +/- 4.5 years. Ninety three percent had experienced sexual desi re and the percentage of satisfactory sexual relations does not change with age. Less educated women had a lower frequency of orgasms. Concl usions: Age and legal status of women are related to their sexual beha vior and less educated women have a less satisfactory sexual life.