Abstract
In this controlled study, we aimed to evaluate the sexual dysfunction of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in comparison to healthy controls. We enrolled 64 sexually active women in our study. The PCOS group consisted of 32 women who met the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria, and the control group was composed of 32 age-matched, healthy females. In addition to the demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants, the hormonal and biochemical parameters were also studied. All patients were invited to fill out the female sexual function index (FSFI) and Beck’s Depression Inventory questionnaires. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the PCOS group was similar to controls (25% vs 19%; P=0.54). No significant difference was found according to each domain score of FSFI. Significant negative correlations were found between the total FSFI scores of the PCOS group and the total (r=−0.278) and free testosterone (r=−0.493) levels. Although depressive scores of PCOS patients were higher, they did not show greater impaired sexual functions than age-matched controls according to their FSFI scores. Considering the multifactorial state of female sexual dysfunction, further studies are needed to clarify the impact of PCOS upon sexuality.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 8 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $32.38 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balen A, Michelmore K . What is polycystic ovary syndrome? Are national views important? Hum Reprod 2002; 17: 2219–2227.
Homburg R . What is polycystic ovarian syndrome? A proposal for a consensus on the definition and diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Hum Reprod 2002; 17: 2495–2499.
Azziz R, Woods KS, Reyna R, Key TJ, Knochenhauer ES, Yildiz BO . The prevalence and features of the polycystic ovary syndrome in an unselected population. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004; 89: 2745–2749.
Ehrmann DA . Polycystic ovary syndrome. N Engl J Med 2005; 24: 1223–1236.
Laumann EO, Niclsi A, Glasser DB, Paik Gingell C, Moreira E, Wang T . Sexual problems among women and men aged 40–80 y: Prevalence and correlates identified in the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Int J Impot Res 2005; 17: 39–57.
Cayan S, Akbay E, Bozlu M, Canpolat B, Acar D, Ulusoy E . The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction and potential risk factors that may impair sexual function in Turkish women. Urol Int 2004; 72: 52–57.
Bachmann G . Female sexuality and sexual dysfunction: Are we stuck on the learning curve? J Sex Med 2006; 3: 639–645.
Hayes RD, Bennett CM, Fairley CK, Dennerstein L . What can prevalence studies tell us about female sexual difficulty and dysfunction? J Sex Med 2006; 3: 589–595.
Segraves R, Woodard T . Female hypoactive sexual desire disorder: history and current status. J Sex Med 2006; 3: 408–418.
Shifren JL, Monz BU, Russo PA, Segreti A, Johannes CB . Sexual problems and distress in United States women: prevalence and correlates. Obstet Gynecol 2008; 112: 970–978.
Lindau ST, Schumm LP, Laumann EO, Levinson W, O'Muircheartaigh CA, Waite LJ . A study of sexuality and health among older adults in the United States. N Engl J Med 2007; 357: 762–774.
Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S, Meston C, Shabsigh R et al. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). J Sex Marital Ther 2000; 26: 191–208.
Chedraui P, Perez-Lopez FR, San Miguel G, Avila C . Assessment of sexuality among middle-aged women using the Female Sexual Function Index. Climacteric 2009; 12: 213–221.
Witting K, Santtila P, Rijsdijk F, Varjonen M, Jern P, Johansson A et al. Correlated genetic and non-shared environmental influences account for the co-morbidity between female sexual dysfunctions. Psychol Med 2009; 39: 115–127.
Nobre PJ, Pinto-Gouveia J . Emotions during sexual activity: differences between sexually functional and dysfunctional men and women. Arch Sex Behav 2006; 35: 491–499.
Gallicchio L, Schilling C, Tomic D, Miller SR, Zacur H, Flaws JA . Correlates of sexual functioning among mid-life women. Climacteric 2007; 10: 132–142.
Veras AB, Bruno RV, de Avila MA, Nardi AE . Sexual dysfunction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: clinical and hormonal correlations. Compr Psychiatry 2011; 52: 486–489.
Elsenbruch S, Hahn S, Kowalsky D, Offner AH, Schedlowski M, Mann K et al. Quality of life, psychosocial well-being, and sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003; 88: 5801–5807.
Stein I, Leventhal M . Amenorrhea associated with bilateral polycystic ovaries. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1935; 29: 181.
Coëffin-Driol C, Giami A . The impact of infertility and its treatment on sexual life and marital relationships: review of the literature. Gynecol Obstet Fertil 2004; 32: 624–637.
Månsson M, Norström K, Holte J, Landin-Wilhelmsen K, Dahlgren E, Landén M . Sexuality and psychological wellbeing in women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared with healthy controls. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2011; 155: 161–165.
Hahn S, Benson S, Elsenbruch S, Pleger K, Tan S, Mann K et al. Metformin treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome improves health-related quality-of-life, emotional distress and sexuality. Hum Reprod 2006; 21: 1925–1934.
Jones GL, Hall JM, Balen AH, Ledger WL . Health-related quality of life measurement in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update 2008; 14: 15–25.
Eden JA, Place J, Carter GD, Jones J, Alaghband-Zadeh J, Pawson M . Elevated free androgen index as an indicator of polycystic ovaries in oligomenorrhoea without obesity or hirsuties. Ann Clin Biochem 1988; 25: 346–349.
Panay N, Al-Azzawi F, Bouchard C, Davis SR, Eden J, Lodhi I et al. Testosterone treatment of HSDD in naturally menopausal women: the ADORE study. Climacteric 2010; 13: 121–131.
White WB, Grady D, Giudice LC, Berry SM, Zborowski J, Snabes MC . A cardiovascular safety study of LibiGel (testosterone gel) in postmenopausal women with elevated cardiovascular risk and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Am Heart J. 2012; 163: 27–32.
Basson R . Review: Testosterone therapy for reduced libido in women. Therap Adv Endocrinol Metab 2010; 1: 155–164.
Wierman ME, Basson R, Davis SR, Khosla S, Miller KK, Rosner W et al. Androgen therapy in women: an Endocrine Society Clinical Practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006; 91: 3697–3710.
Esposito K, Ciotola M, Giugliano F, Bisogni C, Schisano B, Autorino R et al. Association of body weight with sexual function in women. Int J Impot Res 2007; 19: 353–357.
Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group. Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 2004; 81: 19–25.
Hatch R, Rosenfield RL, Kim MH, Tredway D . Hirsutism: implications, etiology, and management. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1981; 140: 815–830.
Coskun A, Ercan O, Arikan DC, Özer A, Kilinc M, Kiran G et al. Modified Ferriman-Gallwey hirsutism score and androgen levels in Turkish women. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2011; 154: 167–171.
Yildirim B, Sabir N, Kaleli B . Relation of intra-abdominal fat distribution to metabolic disorders in nonobese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 2003; 79: 1358–1364.
Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, Naylor BA, Treacher DF, Turner RC . Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia 1985; 28: 412–419.
Beck AT, Ward CH, Mendelson M, Mock J, Erbaugh J . An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1961; 4: 561–571.
Aygin D, Eti-Aslan F . The Turkish adaptation of the female sexual function index. Turkiye Klinikleri J Med Sci 2005; 25: 393–399.
Wiegel M, Meston C, Rosen R . The female sexual function index (FSFI): cross-validation and development of clinical cutoff scores. J Sex Marital Ther 2005; 31: 1–20.
Uslu RI, Kapci EG, Oncu B, Ugurlu M, Turkcapar H . Psychometric properties and cut-off scores of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in Turkish adolescents. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2008; 15: 225–233.
Karaçam Z, Kitiş Y . The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale: its reliability and validity for the Turkish population. Turk Psikiyatri Derg 2008; 19: 187–196.
Jones GL, Balen AH, Ledger WL . Health-related quality of life in PCOS and related infertility: how can we assess this? Hum Fertil (Camb) 2008; 11: 173–185.
Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC . Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999; 281: 537–544.
Sexual and gender identity disorders. In: First, MB (ed). Diagnostic and statistical manual, 4th ed- text revision (DSM-IV-TR). American Psychiatric Association: Washington, DC, USA, 2000.
Sexual dysfunction in women: Epidemiology, risk factors, and evaluation In: UpToDate, version 19.2, Shifren JL 2011.
Meston CM . Validation of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in women with female orgasmic disorder and in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. J Sex Marital Ther 2003; 29: 39–46.
Paulson JD, Haarmann BS, Salerno RL, Asmar P . An investigation of the relationship between emotional maladjustment and infertility. Fertil Steril 1988; 49: 258–262.
Barnard L, Ferriday D, Guenther N, Strauss B, Balen AH, Dye L . Quality of lıfe and psychological well being in polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod 2007; 22: 2279–2286.
Sills ES, Perloe M, Tucker MJ, Kaplan CR, Genton MG, Schattman GL . Diagnostic and treatment characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome: descriptive measurements of patient perception and awareness from 657 confidential self-reports. BMC Womens Health 2001; 1: 3.
Rasgon NL, Rao RC, Hwang S, Altshuler LL, Elman S, Zuckerbrow-Miller J et al. Depression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: clinical and biochemical correlates. J Affect Disord 2003; 74: 299–304.
Battaglia C, Nappi RE, Mancini F, Cianciosi A, Persico N, Busacchi P et al. PCOS, sexuality, and clitoral vascularisation: a pilot study. J Sex Med. 2008; 5: 2886–2894.
Aslan E, Beji NK, Gungor I, Kadioglu A, Dikencik BK . Prevalence and risk factors for low sexual function in women: a study of 1,009 women in an outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Istanbul. J Sex Med 2008; 5: 2044–2052.
Guthrie JR, Dennerstein L, Taffe JR, Lehert P, Burger HG . The menopausal transition: a 9-year prospective population-based study. The Melbourne Women’s Midlife Health Project. Climacteric 2004; 7: 375–389.
Davis SR, Davison SL, Donath S, Bell RJ . Circulating androgen levels and self-reported sexual function in women. JAMA 2005; 294: 91–96.
Santoro N, Torrens J, Crawford S, Allsworth JE, Finkelstein JS, Gold EB et al. Correlates of circulating androgens in midlife women: the study of women’s health across the nation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005; 90: 4836–4845.
Basson R, Brotto LA, Petkau AJ, Labrie F . Role of androgens in women's sexual dysfunction. Menopause 2010; 17: 962–971.
Teplin V, Vittinghoff E, Lin F, Learman LA, Richter HE, Kuppermann M . Oophorectomy in premenopausal women: health-related quality of life and sexual functioning. Obstet Gynecol 2007; 109: 347–354.
Farquhar CM, Harvey SA, Yu Y, Sadler L, Stewart AW . A prospective study of 3 years of outcomes after hysterectomy with and without oophorectomy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2006; 194: 711–717.
Aziz A, Brännström M, Bergquist C, Silfverstolpe G . Perimenopausal androgen decline after oophorectomy does not influence sexuality or psychological well-being. Fertil Steril 2005; 83: 1021–1028.
Azziz R . The evaluation and management of hirsutism. Obstet Gynecol 2003; 101: 995–1007.
Api M, Badoglu B, Akca A, Api O, Gorgen H, Cetin A . Interobserver variability of modified Ferriman-Gallwey hirsutism score in a Turkish population. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2009; 279: 473–479.
Demir B, Pasa S, Demir S, Tumer C, Atay AE, Gul T et al. Hirsutism score and the severity of hyperandrogenism associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in the southeastern region of Turkey. J Int Med Res 2011; 39: 1529–1535.
Askun D, Ataca B . Sexuality related attitudes and behaviors of Turkish university students. Arch Sex Behav 2007; 36: 741–752.
de Niet JE, de Koning CM, Pastoor H, Duivenvoorden HJ, Valkenburg O, Ramakers MJ et al. Psychological well-being and sexarche in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod 2010; 25: 1497–1503.
Trent ME, Rich M, Austin SB, Gordon CM . Fertility concerns and sexual behavior in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome: implications for quality of life. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2003; 16: 33–37.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ercan, C., Coksuer, H., Aydogan, U. et al. Sexual dysfunction assessment and hormonal correlations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Int J Impot Res 25, 127–132 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2013.2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2013.2
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Sexuality and psychological well-being in different polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes compared with healthy controls: a cross-sectional study
BMC Women's Health (2022)
-
Female sexual function in different phenotypes of polycystic ovarian syndrome: a comparative cross-sectional study
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Affective Symptoms, and Neuroactive Steroids: a Focus on Allopregnanolone
Current Psychiatry Reports (2021)
-
The mental health of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Archives of Women's Mental Health (2021)
-
Sexual Function in Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Correlation with Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics
Reproductive Sciences (2021)