Sexual Dysfunction Is Frequent in Premenopausal Women with Diabetes, Obesity, and Hypothyroidism, and Correlates with Markers of Increased Cardiovascular Risk. A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is characterized by reduced sexual appetite and altered psychologic and physiologic response to sexual intercourse; it is reported to be frequent in diabetes mellitus, but no data have been reported in thyroid disorders. To compare the prevalence of FSD in diabetic, in obese, and in hypothyroid women vs. healthy women, and to correlate FSD with endocrine and metabolic profiles. We evaluated, through a questionnaire (Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]), the prevalence of FSD in 91 women affected by diabetes mellitus, obesity, or hypothyroidism, and in 36 healthy women, all aged 22-51 years and in premenopausal state. FSFI score, endocrine and metabolic parameters (triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] and low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, free-triiodothyronine (FT3), free-thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], 17-beta-estradiol, testosterone, glycated hemoglobin 1c (HbA1c), thyroid autoantibodies, E-selectin, P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], plasminogen-activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1]), and anthropometric parameters (body mass index, waist, blood pressure [BP]). A reduced FSFI score was more frequent in diabetic, obese, and hypothyroid women vs. healthy women (P < 0.01). In the different groups of women, FSFI score was inversely correlated (pairwise correlation) with at least one of the following: HbA1c, TSH, LDL-cholesterol, PAI-1, diastolic BP, presence of thyroid Ab, and directly correlated with HDL-cholesterol (always P < 0.05 or less). At stepwise regression analysis, HDL-cholesterol (protective) and HbA1c, LDL-cholesterol, PAI-1, and diastolic BP (negatively) predicted reduced FSFI score. These data indicate an increased prevalence of sexual dysfunction in diabetic, in obese, and in hypothyroid women, associated with markers of cardiovascular risk.