Sexual function in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome and unexplained infertility

Abstract

Background While female sexual dysfunction is a frequent occurrence, characteristics in infertile women are not well delineated. Furthermore, the impact of infertility etiology on the characteristics in women with differing androgen levels observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and unexplained infertility has not been assessed. Objective To determine the characteristics of sexual dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and unexplained infertility. Study Design Secondary data analysis was performed on two of Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Cooperative Reproductive Medicine Networks clinical trials, “Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Study II” and “Assessment of Multiple Intrauterine Gestations from Ovarian Stimulation.” Both protocols assessed female sexual function using the Female Sexual Function Inventory and the Female Sexual Distress Scale. Results Women with polycystic ovary syndrome had higher weight and body mass index than women with unexplained infertility (each p<0.001), greater phenotypic (Ferriman-Gallwey Hirsutism score, sebum score, and acne score; each p<0.001), and hormonal (testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone; each p<0.001) evidence of androgen excess. Sexual function scores, as assessed by the Female Sexual Function Inventory were nearly identical. The Female Sexual Distress Scale total score was higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The mean Female Sexual Function Inventory total score increased slightly as the free androgen index increased, mainly as a result of the desire subscore. This association was more pronounced in the women with unexplained infertility. Conclusion Reproductive age women with infertility associated with polycystic ovary syndrome and unexplained infertility, despite phenotypic and biochemical differences in androgenic manifestations, do not manifest clinically significant differences in sexual function.

Is polycystic ovary syndrome associated with risk of female sexual dysfunction? A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Among them, 11 studies were excluded for lacking a control group; six studies did not meet the inclusion criteria; four studies for inappropriate grouping; five studies for insufficient outcome data; and three studies for previous publications. In all, 10 relevant studies (Drosdzol et al, 2007;Battaglia et al, 2008;Stovall et al, 2012;Ercan et al, 2013;Ferraresi et al, 2013;Benetti-Pinto et al, 2015;Lara et al, 2015;Zueff et al, 2015;Diamond et al, 2017;Noroozzadeh et al, 2017b) met our pre-defined eligibility criteria, and were included in the present study. The selection process is presented in FIGURE 1.…”

“…A total of 2626 participants with a mean age range between 25 and 36 years were enrolled, 1163 of whom were women with PCOS whereas the remaining 1463 women were healthy individuals. Six studies (Stovall et al, 2012;Ferraresi et al, 2013;Benetti-Pinto et al, 2015;Lara et al, 2015;Zueff et al, 2015;Diamond et al, 2017) were conducted in America, three studies (Drosdzol et al, 2007;Battaglia et al, 2008;Ercan et al, 2013) in Europe, and one study (Noroozzadeh et al, 2017b) FIGURE 1 Study selection. The two included studies that provided the mean total FSFI scores and the total cases of the study group and control group but did not report the number of FSD cases:…”

“…Benetti-Pinto (2015) (Drosdzol et al, 2007;Battaglia et al, 2008;Stovall et al, 2012;Ercan et al, 2013;Ferraresi et al, 2013;Lara et al, 2015;Zueff et al, 2015;Noroozzadeh et al, 2017b) reported the number of FSD cases, of which three (Ercan et al, 2013;Ferraresi et al, 2013;Lara et al, 2015) studies reported the mean total FSFI scores, whereas two studies (Benetti-Pinto et al, 2015;Diamond et al, 2017) provided the mean total FSFI scores but without the number of FSD cases.…”

Eating, sleeping and sexual function disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Substantial data demonstrate decreased health‐related quality of life in women with PCOS . Moreover, several recent studies have demonstrated increased frequency of both depression and anxiety in these women . However, little data exist regarding eating patterns and attitudes or potential comorbid eating disorders in women with PCOS.…”

“…[12][13][14] Moreover, several recent studies have demonstrated increased frequency of both depression and anxiety in these women. 15,16 However, little data exist regarding eating patterns and attitudes or potential comorbid eating disorders in women with PCOS. Studies have reported an increased frequency of PCOS among women with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, but these results have not been substantiated in large cross-sectional studies.…”