LEI (Lack of tEstosterone Impact) survey in a clinical sample with surgical menopause

Abstract

Objectives To assess perception of sexuality and awareness of the impact of testosterone on sexual desire in a clinical sample of Italian women with surgical menopause.

Methods In the present cross-sectional study, a structured interview on sexuality-related menopausal symptoms, attitudes towards sexuality and menopausal profile was administered to 568 women (age range 35–69 years) with bilateral oophorectomy with and without hysterectomy for benign conditions.

Results The majority of women (58% yes; 36% most of the time) reported they were satisfied with their sexual life before surgical menopause. After oophorectomy, 79.3% noted the appearance/worsening of vaginal dryness, whereas the reduction of sexual desire was reported by 78.7%. Women with low sexual desire (n = 436) were significantly distressed (59.7%) and reported an impairment (24.8% yes/yes, very much) in the relationship with their partner. Sexual reactions of the partner reported by women included reduced sexual desire (17.8%), sexual dysfunction (5.1%) and fears of giving pain/lack of pleasure (28.3%). A high number of women (88.2%) would be willing to discuss sexual matters with their doctors and would consider therapeutic options. Only 36.8% were aware that a lack of testosterone might impact on sexual desire but 71% would like to know more about the role of testosterone. Hormone replacement therapy was used by 38.4% of the women.

Conclusions These data suggest that women experience significant vaginal dryness and low sexual desire and report a significant distress in the relationship with their partner after surgical menopause. Sexual counseling is mandatory in order to discuss potential therapeutic strategies, including testosterone use.

Key words:

• Oophorectomy
• Sexual Desire
• Vaginal Dryness
• Distress
• Partner
• Testosterone
• Hormone Replacement Therapy

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to those members of the Italian Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (ISGE), the Italian Menopause Society (SIM) and the Italian Society of Gynecology of the Elderly (SIGITE) who agreed to conduct the LEI survey in their gynecological practice. In addition, the authors are very grateful to the entire staff of Multimedia Healthcare Communication, particularly to Mrs Simona Bossi and Mr Teodoro Lattanzio for their expert technical assistance and to Mr. Fabrizio Andreose for statistical analysis.

Conflict of interest  The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Source of funding  This study was supported by an educational unrestricted grant by Procter & Gamble, Italy, to the Italian Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (ISGE), the Italian Menopause Society (SIM) and the Italian Society of Gynecology of the Elderly (SIGITE).