Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: We aimed to examine sexual dysfunction frequency and relationship between sexual dysfunction and androgen level in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Patients and methods: Twenty-five PCOS patients were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the Division of Endocrinology in the Department of Internal Medicine and outpatient clinics of the Department Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty. Twenty-five healthy volunteer age and sex matched are included in control group. Patients and control subjects were evaluated with female sexual function index (FSFI) and the beck depression inventory (BDI). Serum free testosterone, total testosterone, DHEA-S, androstenedione and prolactine were measured. Free androgen index (FAI) was calculated.

Results: Total FSFI score 26.17±4 was in the PCOS group whereas, healthy women had a total FSFI score of 28.61±4.68. FSD was diagnosed in 4 of 25 patients (%16) while 5 of 25 (%20) healthy women had FSD (P=0.57). There is no statistically significant difference between sexual desire (P=0.89), arousal (P=0.10), lubrication (P=0.057), orgasm (P=0.18) and satisfaction (P=0.78) domain scores. Pain domain score was significantly lower in PCOS women (P=0.002). BDI scores was significantly higher in PCOS women (P=0.002). No correlation was seen between androgen level, FAI and total FSFI score and domain score.

Conclusion: Change in external appearence in women with PCOS do not make them feeling less attractive and do not lead to sexual dysfunction. Sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, satisfaction and orgasm disorder in women with PCOS is similar to healthy women but depression is more frequent in women with PCOS than healthy women.