RESUMEN
Patients in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) present reduced quality of life (QOL) and impaired sexual function. Previous studies have mostly addressed male sexual dysfunction. This was a cross-sectional controlled study that applied a general and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-bref questionnaires to assess demographic, marital, and sexual conditions, and QOL in 86 healthy women aged 18 or more years (Group 1), and 38 female ESRD patients on dialysis for at least 2 months (Group 2). The effect of several explanatory variables upon QOL components was estimated. Quality of life was lower in Group 2 -- overall, and on physical and environment domains. To undergo dialysis and to be poorly educated negatively affected the QOL. Yet age, a stable marital relationship or being sexually active had no effect. Female patients undergoing chronic dialysis had lower QOL and were significantly more sexually dysfunctional than comparable healthy women. Decline in sexual function had no effect on the QOL.