A longitudinal study of the effects of free testosterone and other psychosocial variables upon sexual function during the natural traverse of menopause

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine if the change of free testosterone level during the natural traverse of menopause is associated with change in sexual function. Other psychosocial variables, which may also contribute to change in sexual function are studied, including participant’s job satisfaction, satisfaction with financial resources, confidence in abililty to manage symptoms, number of stressful life events, amount of exercise, body image, and quality of personal relationships.Design: Questionnaires distributed to women durig an overnight screening visit for participation in a 5 year study of energy metabolism and body compostion. The same questionnaires were mailed to participants at the end of five years. Free Testosterone levels were measured at the beginning and end of the study.Materials and Methods: Following IRB approval, 57 pre-menopausal women between the ages of 45 and 55 completed a questionnaire. Pre-menopausal status was defined as having an FSH level of 30 or lower, three consecutive cycles in 3 months preceeding baseline visit, absence of surgically induced menopause, and no hormone replacement therapy. Free Testosteron Immunoassay Kits (DSL) were used for quantitative measurement of testosterone in serum. The psychological questionnaire consisted of three parts. The first portion included psychosocial information such as level of education, number and ages of children, marital status, financial and career satisfaction, and life events scale (adapted from Holmes and Rahe, 1967). The second portion consisted of 18 questions focusing on sexual satisfaction and designed by J. Gerber. The third portion pertained to symptoms of menopause and confidence in ability to manage symptoms.Results: 34 women completed the second phase of questions, but only 27 completed both questionnaires and provide blood for measurement of free testosterone. Over the five year interval the free testosterone levels decreased from 3.41 +-2.00 (+-SD) to 2.88 +-1.78 (P=0.021). Analysis of variance suggest that the frequency of exercise is the only variable that is significantly associated with sexual satisfaction. Sexual satisfaction appears to increase with increasing freequency of exercise, both at baseline (p=0.34) and in the 5th year of the study (p=0.036). Sexual satisfaction was not assoicated with free testosterone levels in either phase (p=0.315).Conclusion: Exercize improves sexual satisfaction in post menopausal women. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine if the change of free testosterone level during the natural traverse of menopause is associated with change in sexual function. Other psychosocial variables, which may also contribute to change in sexual function are studied, including participant’s job satisfaction, satisfaction with financial resources, confidence in abililty to manage symptoms, number of stressful life events, amount of exercise, body image, and quality of personal relationships. Design: Questionnaires distributed to women durig an overnight screening visit for participation in a 5 year study of energy metabolism and body compostion. The same questionnaires were mailed to participants at the end of five years. Free Testosterone levels were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Materials and Methods: Following IRB approval, 57 pre-menopausal women between the ages of 45 and 55 completed a questionnaire. Pre-menopausal status was defined as having an FSH level of 30 or lower, three consecutive cycles in 3 months preceeding baseline visit, absence of surgically induced menopause, and no hormone replacement therapy. Free Testosteron Immunoassay Kits (DSL) were used for quantitative measurement of testosterone in serum. The psychological questionnaire consisted of three parts. The first portion included psychosocial information such as level of education, number and ages of children, marital status, financial and career satisfaction, and life events scale (adapted from Holmes and Rahe, 1967). The second portion consisted of 18 questions focusing on sexual satisfaction and designed by J. Gerber. The third portion pertained to symptoms of menopause and confidence in ability to manage symptoms. Results: 34 women completed the second phase of questions, but only 27 completed both questionnaires and provide blood for measurement of free testosterone. Over the five year interval the free testosterone levels decreased from 3.41 +-2.00 (+-SD) to 2.88 +-1.78 (P=0.021). Analysis of variance suggest that the frequency of exercise is the only variable that is significantly associated with sexual satisfaction. Sexual satisfaction appears to increase with increasing freequency of exercise, both at baseline (p=0.34) and in the 5th year of the study (p=0.036). Sexual satisfaction was not assoicated with free testosterone levels in either phase (p=0.315). Conclusion: Exercize improves sexual satisfaction in post menopausal women.