Jordan has a higher fertility rate (3.8) than the averages of countries similar in income to Jordan (2.2) and compared to the Middle East and North Africa region as a whole (2.8) (WHO, WB, UNICEF, & DHS, 2011). The findings of the 2009 Jordanian Population and Family Health Survey demonstrated that the total fertility rate (TFR) has stopped declining in the country since 2002 (DOS, 2010b; USAID, 2010). The prevalence of contraceptive use has also shown little change in Jordan over the last decade (DOS, 2010b; USAID, 2010). Given that contraception is one of the proximate determinants of fertility (Rahayu et al., 2009), the main purpose of this study was to investigate which factors are contributing to women's current contraceptive behavior and intention for future contraceptive use. Research questions were developed in a comprehensive framework that considers women's intention and actual behavior as outcomes of various interactive factors within a socio-cultural context. In particular, the study's framework was directed by a theoretical basis adapted from Ajzen and Fishbein's Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and an extensive review of the available literature in the research area. Obviously, the social set-up and cultural norms in the study setting, together with attitudes toward children and family, represent a traditional scenario that could help explain the consistency of fertility and contraceptive use in the country. Further, the influences of background characteristics on women's contraceptive behaviors and intentions provide another scenario that could help assess the current situation of family planning (FP) in Jordan. In this study, demographic factors, spousal communication variables and healthcare system-related factors are all defined as background characteristics. Attitudes and social norms reflect the women's behavioral determinants and represent the main constructs of the TRA. In fact, involving a set of factors related to women's beliefs and social norms in the study's framework provided an opportunity to explore how these factors might promote or inhibit a woman's intentions and behaviors in respect to contraceptive use. In a three-manuscript format, this research was designed to achieve a number of objectives. The first manuscript aimed at identifying the major factors associated with the current use of contraception among women of childbearing age in northern Jordan. The second manuscript focused on investigating the main factors that are associated with women's contraceptive method preference (e.g. the choice of modern contraceptives as effective methods in preventing pregnancy versus the choice of traditional contraceptives as methods with high failure rates). The third manuscript attempted to explore the key factors associated with women's intention for future contraceptive use since the existence of such an intention would consequently translate into an actual behavior later. In 2010, original cross-section data were collected by means of a face-to-face interview using a structured pre-tested survey. The study sample included women who were currently married and were between 18 and 49 years old. Applying a systematic random sampling procedure, all respondents were recruited from the waiting rooms of five randomly selected Maternal and Child Health (MCH) centers in the Governorate of Irbid, northern Jordan. Using a list provided by the Ministry of Health, all centers in the Governorate were stratified according to the region (urban vs. rural) and randomly selected in proportion to their number in each region. The final sample size for this research consisted of 536 women surveyed, giving a response rate of 92.4 percent. Utilizing logistic regression analyses, the results of the dissertation manuscripts indicate that women's behaviors and intentions toward the use of contraception are affected by a number of factors at the individual, familial and institutional levels. The findings that emerged from the three manuscripts provide health professionals and policy makers with important information to assist in the design of FP programs and campaigns aimed at increasing current contraceptive use, enhancing the adoption of modern contraception and motivating the intention for future contraceptive use. This research strongly suggests that health professionals develop health policies that both expand the availability of MCH centers and strengthen the role of healthcare providers to dispel the numerous rumors and misconceptions surrounding the use of contraceptives, particularly modern ones. Health workers at the MCH centers need to ensure that women have sufficient information about the benefits and side effects of different types of contraception by offering proper FP counseling. The messages that religious leaders can use in advocating for FP would also help make contraceptive use socially acceptable since their opinions are often followed by the majority. This would be a key step toward removing the barriers to contraceptive use. Moreover, to design effective FP interventions, planners should take into account women's attitudes toward the use of contraceptive methods and the components of those attitudes (e.g. women's approval of contraceptive use for birth spacing and perceptions regarding the value of large family sizes and the importance of having male children in Jordanian families). / Graduation date: 2012 / Access restricted to the OSU Community at author's request from May 9, 2012 - May 9, 2013

Contraceptives are available free of charge throughout South Africa. Nevertheless the number of requests for termination of pregnancy (TOP) services continues to increase. This research investigated challenges preventing women from using contraceptives effectively. Structured interviews were conducted with 47 women who requested TOP services. Gender and financial issues posed challenges for some women to access contraceptives as well as their reported inability to access contraceptives. Most (85,5%) of the respondents used contraceptives. They discontinued using contraceptives because they experienced side-effects, necessitating them to request TOPs. Knowledge about, access to, nor the actual use of contraceptive enabled these women to prevent unwanted pregnancies. More effective counselling about the side-effects of contraceptives and enhanced accessibility of contraceptives during weekends and lunch breaks could enable more women to prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the number of requests for TOPs in the Gert Sibande District (Mpumalanga). / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Contraceptives are available free of charge throughout South Africa. Nevertheless the number of requests for termination of pregnancy (TOP) services continues to increase. This research investigated challenges preventing women from using contraceptives effectively. Structured interviews were conducted with 47 women who requested TOP services. Gender and financial issues posed challenges for some women to access contraceptives as well as their reported inability to access contraceptives. Most (85,5%) of the respondents used contraceptives. They discontinued using contraceptives because they experienced side-effects, necessitating them to request TOPs. Knowledge about, access to, nor the actual use of contraceptive enabled these women to prevent unwanted pregnancies. More effective counselling about the side-effects of contraceptives and enhanced accessibility of contraceptives during weekends and lunch breaks could enable more women to prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the number of requests for TOPs in the Gert Sibande District (Mpumalanga). / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

In Ethiopia the number of young people going to college is steadily increasing. This predisposes them to risky sexual behaviour which leads to unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortions and HIV. This study has aimed to determine the patterns of sexual practice and contraceptives use and risk behaviours among those students in central Ethiopia. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was employed. Data on sexual practice, knowledge and contraceptive use were collected from 327 college students. The data were cleaned, entered and analysed using SPSS version 20. The results revealed that despite their knowledge of the methods of safe sex, there are still considerable misconceptions regarding the effectiveness of contraceptives, their side effects and their proper use. In terms of the sexual practice reported by the respondents, 142 (43.4%) practised sex and 110 (77.5%) of respondents had used contraceptives at least once. The age of the respondents, the number of years for which they stayed in college and their fields of study were significantly associated with their sexual practice. In conclusion, a significant number of college students practised sex without using contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, and a considerable number of their partners disapproved of the use of contraceptives / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Background: The number of women participating in sports has increased dramatically, though research in sports are often performed on men. Physical exercise is known to increase physical performance and improve well-being. Although exercise has beneficial health effects for most of the women, it is known that strenuous exercise may also have negative health consequences. Common are menstrual dysfunctions and the medical effects of a long-standing amenorrhea are serious. Moreover, strenuous exercise without adequate recovery may lead to overreaching (OR) /overtraining syndrome (OTS). An improved muscle strength are of great importance in many sports, hence an increased understanding on how to generate optimal strength training programs in women without negative side effects are essential. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the effects on strength and power of high frequency periodised leg resistance training to evaluate a training regime and moreover to investigate if the training was well accepted and without potential exercise-related negative consequences. Moreover, to provide normative data on oxytocin and cortisol to elucidate if these hormones could be one diagnostic marker in combination with others to monitor and diagnose female athletes that may be at risk to develop OR/OTS. Methods: Fifty-nine women, participated in the four month intervention study. Two groups performed high frequency leg resistance training for two weeks of each menstrual/oral contraceptive (OC) cycle. The remaining part of the cycle they performed the leg training once a week. Group 1, trained with high frequency (5 times·w-1) during the first two weeks of each cycle, and group 2, during the last two weeks of each cycle. A control group performed regular (3 times·w-1) leg resistance training. Another 33 women participated in the observational study. The OC users and non-users, were followed over a nine-month period with monthly blood sampling of oxytocin and cortisol, and the Profile of Mood State (POMS) as a subjective measure of OR/OTS. Results: The women who performed high frequency leg resistance training, 5 times·w-1, during the first two weeks of each cycle showed significant increase in jump height, peak torque values in hamstrings, increased lean body mass of the legs, and their experiences of the training were positive. These results were not found when the periodised training was performed during the last two weeks of each cycle. In the control group an increase in jump height, and peak torque (left hamstring) was observed. There were no evident differences in the training effects between women with or without OC use. Moreover, no exercise-related negative consequences were detected in any of the three groups. The women in the observational study showed seasonal variations in oxytocin and cortisol, with different pattern in OC users to non-users. No convincing relationships to POMS were found.  Conclusions: The high frequency periodised leg resistance training during the first two weeks of the cycle is more beneficial to optimize resistance training, than the last two weeks. The high frequency periodised leg resistance training was not associated with exercise-related negative consequences and was well accepted when performed during the first two weeks of each cycle. Due to seasonality and impact of OC use, oxytocin and cortisol are not suggested to be optimal, diagnostic markers alone/in combination with others, to detect OR/OTS in physically active women.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / The purpose of this research is to study the effect of different demographic and socio economic factors on the contraceptive use among currently married women of age 15-49 in the two regions of Ethiopia, Amhara (17,214,056) and Oromiya (27,158,471). Data are obtained from the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). Information on contraceptive use was provided by current use 1334 (14.7), future use 4017 (52.0), unmet need for spacing 1817 (20.0) and limiting 1249 (13.3) currently married women aged 15-49 interviewed in the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). / South Africa

Os cuidados com a contracepção na adolescência são fundamentais para vivenciar a sexualidade de forma plena, evitando uma gravidez não planejada ou não desejada, bem como a transmissão de doenças. Em meio a uma realidade global de elevados índices de gravidez na adolescência e aumento na incidência de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, é necessário pensar em uma opção contraceptiva que proporcione a dupla proteção. Neste sentido, o presente estudo propôs-se a analisar o conhecimento das adolescentes, cadastradas em um Núcleo do Programa de Saúde da Família de Ribeirão Preto-SP, em relação aos métodos anticoncepcionais, especialmente aqueles voltados para a prevenção de gravidez e doenças sexualmente ao mesmo tempo. A amostra foi composta por 90 adolescentes, do sexo feminino, na faixa etária compreendida entre 15 e 19 anos de idade. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistadas domiciliares, com apoio de um questionário estruturado. Os resultados da pesquisa demonstraram que as adolescentes eram predominantemente brancas, solteiras, estudavam e pertenciam à categoria sócio-econômica C e D. A maioria das entrevistadas conhecia métodos de dupla proteção (54,4%) sendo o preservativo masculino o mais citado (91,8%). Quanto ao uso de métodos de dupla proteção em algum momento da vida, 58,9% das adolescentes referiram ter feito uso, o que indica que 98,5% das que iniciaram a vida sexual, já se protegeram de gravidez e doenças simultaneamente alguma vez na vida. Quanto às atitudes em relação ao uso dos métodos, a maioria teve atitude liberal (43,3%), seguida de 28,9% que tiveram atitude neutra e 27,7% atitude conservadora, o que evidenciou que as atitudes não se configuram como obstáculos para o uso dos métodos. O estudo indicou que o conhecimento sobre os métodos anticoncepcionais não garante o seu uso e as atitudes não são barreiras que impedem práticas efetivas de proteção. Assim, questões de gênero e os diversos contextos devem ser considerados para um melhor entendimento das questões que envolvem a saúde sexual e reprodutiva dos adolescentes, bem como para a concepção de ações efetivas no âmbito das políticas públicas. / Cautions against contraception during adolescence are fundamental to live sexuality in its plenitude, avoiding a not planed or desired pregnancy, as well as the transmission of some diseases. Considering the actual global reality of high levels of undesired pregnancy during adolescence and the increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases, it is necessary to think about a contraceptive option that could offer dual protection. The aim of this study is to analyze a group of adolescents, registered in the Family Health Program (Nucleus IV) located in Ribeirão Preto, SP State, regarding their knowledge about contraceptive methods, especially those which are able to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease at the same time. The sample was composed of 90 female adolescents, at age range of 15 to 19 years old. The data were collected by domiciliary interview, supported by a structured questionnaire. The results demonstrated that the adolescents were predominantly, white (Caucasoid), single, still studying and classified as C and D in economic status. The majority of the interviewed adolescents already knew the methods of dual protection (54.4%), being the condoms the most cited (91.8%). Also according to the results, 58.9% of the interviewed reported that they had used the dual protection methods at least in one moment in life, indicating that 98.5% of the adolescents, which had initiated their sexual lives, had protected themselves simultaneously from pregnancy and IST. Regarding their position related to the usage of contraceptive methods, the results revealed that the majority (43.3%) showed to be quite liberal, whereas 28.9% of the interviewed expressed a neutral position and a conservative attitude was adopted by 27.7% of the adolescents, demonstrating that independently of their position, it did not figured as an obstacle to the use of the contraceptive methods. This study revealed that the knowledge level of the adolescents, in relation to the contraceptive methods, does not guarantee their use; and their position does not act as a barrier to the effective protection. To sum up, gender questions and several contexts must be considered to provide a better understanding of these subjects which evolve the adolescent’s sexual and reproductive health, as well as the conception of effective actions in the sphere of public health politics.

Introdução: Embora a contracepção seja bastante prevalente no Brasil (77%), apenas dois métodos predominam: o contraceptivo hormonal oral e a esterilização cirúrgica (LT). No entanto a LT não é inócua e pode trazer diversas conseqüências para a vida dessas mulheres que se submetem a ela. Dentre estas pode estar a deterioração da função sexual o que seria contraditório visto que a LT objetiva uma vida sexual melhor, menos atemorizada pelo medo da gravidez. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a função sexual de mulheres submetidas à LT. Métodos: Estudo transversal de 235 casos, representativos de 1826, com dados obtidos através de inquérito da função sexual entre as mulheres laqueadas pelo SUS em Ribeirão Preto(SP) entre 2000 e 2004, utilizando-se o Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) adaptado para o contexto brasileiro. Resultados: As entrevistadas tinham em média 35,9 anos e foram esterilizadas em média aos 33,3 anos; 89,8% estavam em união marital, 57,9% declararam-se brancas e 66,8%, católicas, tinham em média 6,1 anos de estudo e 76,6% pertenciam às classes C e D; 93,4% referiram ter um bom relacionamento conjugal e 59,5% declararam que o relacionamento não mudou após o procedimento. A média de filhos vivos foi 3,2, resultaram aborto 8,8% das gestações, 71,2% resultaram partos vaginais e 28,8%, cesáreas; 52,3% usaram pílula 6 meses antes da cirurgia; 98,7% responderam estar satisfeita com a cirurgia e 6,8% referiram dor pélvica. Em geral, 32,5% das mulheres apresentaram escores de índice com risco para disfunção sexual medido pelo FSFI. Foi observada associação entre a variável disfunção sexual e categoria de escolaridade, renda per capita, dor pélvica, número de gravidezes, número de partos vaginais e de cesáreas. Observou-se correlação negativa entre o escore de função sexual e o número de filhos vivos e correlação positiva entre o escore e renda familiar, renda per capita e os valores de classificação econômica. Conclusão: A partir dos dados obtidos, pôde-se observar que dentre as mulheres laqueadas do estudo a presença de disfunção sexual estava associada à dor pélvica e maior número de cesarianas, assim como a situações ligadas à vulnerabilidade social (baixa renda e escolaridade e maior número de filhos). / Introduction: Although contraception is high prevalent in Brazil (77%), only two methods prevail: the hormonal pills and the surgical sterilization. However female sterilization is not innocuous and it can bring several consequences for those women\'s life. Among these consequences it can be to deterioration of the sexual function what is contradictory sees that the use of contraceptional methods aims at a better sexual life, less frightened by the fear of pregnancy. The present study had as objective evaluates the women\'s sexual function submitted to LT. Methods: prevalence study of 235 cases, representative of 1826, with data obtained through inquiry of the sexual function among the women sterilized by the public health system in Ribeirão Preto(SP) between 2000 and 2004. There has been used the Sexual Female Function Index (FSFI) adapted for the Brazilian context. Results: The interviewees were 35,9 years old on average and they were sterilized on average to the 33,3 years; 89,8% were in marital union, 57,9% pronounced white and 66,8%, catholic, they had on average of 6,1 years of study and 76,6% belonged to the classes C and D; 93,4% referred to have a good matrimonial relationship and 59,5% declared that the relationship didn\'t change after the procedure. The alive children\'s average was 3,2, 8,8% of the gestations resulted abortion, 71,2% resulted vaginal childbirths and 28,8%, cesarean; 52,3% used pill 6 months before the surgery; 98,7% answered to be satisfied with the surgery and 6,8% referred pelvic pain. In general, 32,5% of the women presented index scores with risk for sexual dysfunction measured by FSFI. Association was observed between the variable sexual dysfunction and education category, per capita income, pelvic pain, number of pregnancies, number of vaginal childbirths and of Cesarean. Negative correlation was observed between the score of sexual function and the number of alive children and positive correlation among the score and surrender family, per capita income and the values of economical classification. Conclusion: Starting from the obtained data, it could be observed that among the sterilized women the presence of sexual dysfunction was associated to the pelvic pain and larger number of cesarean operations, as well as linked situations to the social vulnerability (low income and education and larger number of children).

Orientador: José Eduardo Tanus dos Santos / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-07T16:45:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gomes_ValeriaAguiar_D.pdf: 9967733 bytes, checksum: 0f5a9488cc56b0e1272b80bd9cb6ea0b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: A síndrome do ovário policístico (SOP) é a endocrinopatia mais comum em mulheres na idade reprodutiva e está frequentemente associada a alguns fatores de risco cardiovascular. A grande maioria das doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) ocorre inicialmente com o remodelamento vascular, em que as metaloproteinases de matriz (MMPs) são os principais mediadores. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar os níveis plasmáticos da MMP-2 e da MMP-9 e dos inibidores teciduais de MMPs (TIMPs) das pacientes com SOP com as controles saudáveis e examinar se os níveis desses biomarcadores estão associados com às características clínicas e bioquímicas da SOP. Além disso, avaliar o efeito do anticoncepcional oral sobre os níveis plasmáticos de MMPs e respectivos inibidores endógenos nas mulheres com SOP. Para isso, na primeira parte do estudo, avaliamos 65 controles ovulatórias e 80 pacientes com SOP. As concentrações plasmáticas de MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 foram medidas por Elisa e, as de MMP-2, por zimografia. Os níveis de MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9 e TIMP-1 não foram significativamente diferentes entre os grupos (p? 0,05). Pacientes com SOP apresentaram menores níveis plasmáticos de TIMP-2 do que as controles saudáveis (182,30 ± 5,60 vs. 204,20 ± 7,28 ng/ml; p ?0,05). Além disso, a testosterona foi preditor independente dos níveis de TIMP-2 (estimativa = -0,35, p = 0,04) e da razão MMP-9/TIMP-1 (estimativa = 0,01, p = 0,04). Para avaliar se a redução do hiperandrogenismo iria promover alguma alteração no perfil das MMPs, foram analisadas 20 mulheres com SOP que queriam contracepção hormonal (grupo SOP- ACO), 20 mulheres ovulatórias que desejavam contracepção hormonal (grupo controle- ACO) e 15 mulheres ovulatórias que desejavam contracepção não-hormonal (grupo controle). O tratamento com ACO contendo 30 mcg de etinilestradiol/2mg de acetato de clormadinona durante 6 meses reduziu significativamente as concentrações plasmáticas de MMP-2 no grupo controle ( de 1,44 ± 0,11 unidades arbitrárias no tempo basal para 1,22 ± 0,07 unidades arbitrárias após 6 meses; p = 0,01), e no grupo SOP ( de 1,43 ± 0,08 unidades arbitrárias no tempo basal para 1,25 ± 0,09 unidades arbitrárias após 6 meses; p = 0,007). O ACO reduziu as concentrações de TIMP-2 e TIMP-1 no grupo controle (todos p ?0,05), mas não teve efeitos na MMP-9 plasmática e nas razões MMP-2/TIMP-2 e MMP-9/TIMP-1 (todos p? 0,05) nos grupos avaliados. Os achados do presente estudo indicam que as mulheres com SOP possuem um desequilíbrio nas razões MMP-2/TIMP-2 e MMP-9/TIMP-1, bem como níveis reduzidos de TIMP-2. Parte desses achados estão relacionados ao hiperandrogenismo presente nessas mulheres. Na segunda parte do estudo, observamos que a redução do hiperandrogenismo, promovido pelo tratamento em longo prazo com o ACO, reduziu as concentrações plasmáticas de MMP-2. Considerando o desequilíbrio no perfil das MMPs apresentado pelas mulheres com SOP e, as possíveis consequências decorrentes desse cenário, o tratamento com ACO se mostra benéfico nessas pacientes, podendo reduzir os riscos de futuras complicações cardiovasculares / Abstract: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age and it is often associated with some cardiovascular risk factors. The majority of cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurs initially with vascular remodeling in which matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key mediators. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare plasma levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) of PCOS patients with healthy controls and to examine whether the levels of these biomarkers are associated with clinical and biochemical characteristics of PCOS. In addition to it, our goal was to evaluate the effect of oral contraceptives on plasma levels of MMPs and their endogenous inhibitors in women with PCOS. In order to prove it, in the first part of the study we evaluated 65 controls and 80 patients with ovulatory PCOS. The plasma concentration of MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were measured by Elisa, and MMP-2 by zymography. The levels of MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were not significantly different between groups (p? 0.05). PCOS patients had lower their plasma levels of TIMP-2 than healthy controls ones (182,30 ± 5,60 vs. 204,20 ± 7,28 ng/ml; p = 0,02). Furthermore, testosterone was an independent predictor of the levels of TIMP-2 (estimate = -0.35, p = 0.04) and the MMP-9/TIMP- 1 ratio (estimate = 0.01, p = 0.04). To assess whether the reduction of hyperandrogenism would promote a change in the profile of MMPs, we analyzed 20 women with PCOS who wanted to hormonal contraception (OC-PCOS group), 20 ovulatory women who required hormonal contraception (OC-control group) and 15 ovulatory women who wanted non-hormonal contraception wanted a nonhormonal contraception (non-OC control group). Treatment with OC containing 2 mg chlormadinone acetate/30 ?g ethinylestradiol for 6 months significantly reduced plasma MMP-2 concentrations in the OC-control (from 1.44 ± 0.11 arbitrary units at baseline to 1.22 ± 0.07 arbitrary units after 6 months; p = 0.01) and the PCOS groups (from 1.43 ± 0.08 arbitrary units at baseline to 1.25 ± 0.09 arbitrary units after 6 months; p = 0.007) and TIMP-2 and TIMP-1 levels (448.0 ± 66.3 ng/mL versus 349.0 ± 40.9 ng/mL; p = 0.009) in the OC-control group (all p ?0.05) but had no effects on MMP-9 concentrations or on MMP-2/TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP- 1 ratios (all p? 0.05) in any group. The results of this study indicate that women with PCOS have an imbalance in the MMP-2/TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios and reduced levels of TIMP-2. Parts of these findings are also related to hyperandrogenism presence in these women. In the second part of the study, we observed that the reduction of hyperandrogenism promoted by long-term treatment with the OC reduced plasma concentrations of MMP-2. Given the imbalance in the profile of MMPs presented by women with PCOS and the possible consequences of this scenario, treatment with OC shows beneficial in these patients may reduce the risk of future cardiovascular complications / Doutorado / Farmacologia / Doutora em Farmacologia

Introdução: Embora a contracepção seja bastante prevalente no Brasil (77%), apenas dois métodos predominam: o contraceptivo hormonal oral e a esterilização cirúrgica (LT). No entanto a LT não é inócua e pode trazer diversas conseqüências para a vida dessas mulheres que se submetem a ela. Dentre estas pode estar a deterioração da função sexual o que seria contraditório visto que a LT objetiva uma vida sexual melhor, menos atemorizada pelo medo da gravidez. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a função sexual de mulheres submetidas à LT. Métodos: Estudo transversal de 235 casos, representativos de 1826, com dados obtidos através de inquérito da função sexual entre as mulheres laqueadas pelo SUS em Ribeirão Preto(SP) entre 2000 e 2004, utilizando-se o Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) adaptado para o contexto brasileiro. Resultados: As entrevistadas tinham em média 35,9 anos e foram esterilizadas em média aos 33,3 anos; 89,8% estavam em união marital, 57,9% declararam-se brancas e 66,8%, católicas, tinham em média 6,1 anos de estudo e 76,6% pertenciam às classes C e D; 93,4% referiram ter um bom relacionamento conjugal e 59,5% declararam que o relacionamento não mudou após o procedimento. A média de filhos vivos foi 3,2, resultaram aborto 8,8% das gestações, 71,2% resultaram partos vaginais e 28,8%, cesáreas; 52,3% usaram pílula 6 meses antes da cirurgia; 98,7% responderam estar satisfeita com a cirurgia e 6,8% referiram dor pélvica. Em geral, 32,5% das mulheres apresentaram escores de índice com risco para disfunção sexual medido pelo FSFI. Foi observada associação entre a variável disfunção sexual e categoria de escolaridade, renda per capita, dor pélvica, número de gravidezes, número de partos vaginais e de cesáreas. Observou-se correlação negativa entre o escore de função sexual e o número de filhos vivos e correlação positiva entre o escore e renda familiar, renda per capita e os valores de classificação econômica. Conclusão: A partir dos dados obtidos, pôde-se observar que dentre as mulheres laqueadas do estudo a presença de disfunção sexual estava associada à dor pélvica e maior número de cesarianas, assim como a situações ligadas à vulnerabilidade social (baixa renda e escolaridade e maior número de filhos). / Introduction: Although contraception is high prevalent in Brazil (77%), only two methods prevail: the hormonal pills and the surgical sterilization. However female sterilization is not innocuous and it can bring several consequences for those women\'s life. Among these consequences it can be to deterioration of the sexual function what is contradictory sees that the use of contraceptional methods aims at a better sexual life, less frightened by the fear of pregnancy. The present study had as objective evaluates the women\'s sexual function submitted to LT. Methods: prevalence study of 235 cases, representative of 1826, with data obtained through inquiry of the sexual function among the women sterilized by the public health system in Ribeirão Preto(SP) between 2000 and 2004. There has been used the Sexual Female Function Index (FSFI) adapted for the Brazilian context. Results: The interviewees were 35,9 years old on average and they were sterilized on average to the 33,3 years; 89,8% were in marital union, 57,9% pronounced white and 66,8%, catholic, they had on average of 6,1 years of study and 76,6% belonged to the classes C and D; 93,4% referred to have a good matrimonial relationship and 59,5% declared that the relationship didn\'t change after the procedure. The alive children\'s average was 3,2, 8,8% of the gestations resulted abortion, 71,2% resulted vaginal childbirths and 28,8%, cesarean; 52,3% used pill 6 months before the surgery; 98,7% answered to be satisfied with the surgery and 6,8% referred pelvic pain. In general, 32,5% of the women presented index scores with risk for sexual dysfunction measured by FSFI. Association was observed between the variable sexual dysfunction and education category, per capita income, pelvic pain, number of pregnancies, number of vaginal childbirths and of Cesarean. Negative correlation was observed between the score of sexual function and the number of alive children and positive correlation among the score and surrender family, per capita income and the values of economical classification. Conclusion: Starting from the obtained data, it could be observed that among the sterilized women the presence of sexual dysfunction was associated to the pelvic pain and larger number of cesarean operations, as well as linked situations to the social vulnerability (low income and education and larger number of children).