Sexual function through decades: association with androgens and cardiometabolic features

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine the change in sexual function among Turkish women through decades and to define the association between sexual dysfunction and androgens and cardiometabolic features.

Materials and methods: A total of 206 postmenopausal women aged 50–69 years and 210 premenopausal women aged 30–49 years who applied to menopause and gynecology clinics at a university-affiliated education and research hospital were included in this prospective study. Groups were constructed according to decades (i.e., 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and 60–69 years). Sexual function was assessed between the groups, using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Cardiometabolic features and androgen levels were also compared between the groups.

Results: Sexual function determined at each decade by FSFI scores were 27.18, 23.11, 18.40, and 11.35, respectively (fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh decade). Desire, arousal, and satisfaction domains tended to be lower in the 40s than in the 30s. As time passes after the 30s, the total FSFI score decreased until the late 60s. Serum total testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrostenedione sulfate (DHEAS) levels decreased through the decades. There was no correlation between cardiometabolic features, androgens, and FSFI scores.

Conclusion: According to our survey, sexual function decreases starting at the age of 30 and continues to drop until the late 60s among postmenopausal women. There was no association between sexual dysfunction and androgen levels in premenopausal women. The serum DHEAS level was associated with sexual dysfunction only among postmenopausal women. There was no association between sexual dysfunction and cardiometabolic features in either premenopausal or postmenopausal women.

摘要

目的：这项研究的目的是确定几十年来土耳其女性性功能的变化, 并确定性功能障碍与雄激素和心脏代谢特征之间的关系。

材料与方法：在这项前瞻性的研究中, 纳入了在某大学附属教学医院来绝经和妇科门诊就诊的206名50∼69岁的绝经后妇女和210名30∼49岁的绝经前妇女。按年龄的十年间隔进行分组(即30-39岁、40-49岁、50-59岁和60-69岁)。应用女性性功能指数量表(FSFI)对两组的性功能进行评估。比较两组之间的心脏代谢特征和雄激素水平。

结果：以十年间隔每组的性功能FSFI评分分别为：27.18、23.11、18.40和11.35(第四、五、六和七十年)。40多岁的人在欲望、性唤醒和满足感方面往往比30多岁的人要低。30岁之后, 随着时间的推移至60岁末, FSFI总分持续下降。血清总睾酮、雄烯二酮和硫酸脱氢表雄酮 (DHEAS)水平几十年来呈下降趋势。心脏代谢特征、雄激素和FSFI评分之间没有相关性。

结论：根据我们的研究, 性功能从30岁开始下降, 并持续下降至60岁后期的绝经女性。在绝经前妇女中, 性功能障碍和雄激素水平之间没有关联。血清DHEAS水平仅在绝经后妇女中与性功能障碍相关。在绝经前或绝经后妇女中, 性功能障碍与心脏代谢特征之间没有关联。

Keywords:

• Menopause
• sexual dysfunction
• Female Sexual Function Index
• androgens
• aging
• cardiometabolic features

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Potential conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Source of funding

Nil.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.