Relation between sexual dysfunction and metabolic syndrome

Abstract

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and depression have increased during the recent years. As the sexual dysfunction is also frequent, we aimed to search for the associations between sexual dysfunction and the metabolic syndrome and its components, respectively, by reviewing the literature. The clinical and biochemical components of the metabolic syndrome included cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, visceral obesity and depression, furthermore, insulin resistance, atherogenic lipid profile, hypogonadism, chronic systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction were all demonstrated to affect adversely the sexual function. The dysfunction of the sexual arousal response shows a strong association in men and a milder one in women with the cardiovascular diseases and depression. Sexual function in diabetes mellitus is mostly impaired by microvascular injury, polyneuropathy and autonomic neuropathy. Erectile dysfunction and disorder of the female sexual arousal response and the orgasm, respectively, are associated with insulin resistance, atherogenic lipid profile and systemic inflammatory condition in overweight or obese patients. Sexual dysfunction particularly in men can be an early sign of the severe complications of metabolic syndrome. The pathogenetic link between the metabolic syndrome and the sexual dysfunction seems to be the insulin resistance. Both metabolic syndrome and sexual dysfunction can be restored by altering the lifestyle. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(3): 98-103.