The
new study conducted in Michigan and six other clinical sites across the
country found levels of testosterone and other naturally-occurring
reproductive hormones play a limited role in driving menopausal women's
sexual function.
While
testosterone is the main sex hormone in men, women also have small
amounts of it, as ovaries naturally produce testosterone.
Researchers wanted to find out exactly what effect is had on sexual function as women go through menopause.
'While
levels of testosterone and other reproductive hormones were linked to
women's feelings of sexual desire, our large-scale study suggests
psychosocial factors influence many aspects of sexual function,' said
John Randolph of the University of Michigan Medical School, who led the
study in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology
& Metabolism.
'A
woman's emotional well-being and quality of her intimate relationship
are tremendously important contributors to sexual health.'
Researchers
examined data from 3,302 women who participated in the ongoing Study of
Women's Health across the Nation (SWAN) to analyze the relationship
between reproductive hormones and sexual function during the menopausal
transition.
Participants were asked about their desire for sex and sexual activity.
The
women also had their blood drawn to measure levels of testosterone and
other reproductive hormones including dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
(DHEAS), which the body can convert into testosterone or a form of
estrogen called estradiol, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
The body's levels of FSH naturally rise when a women experiences menopause.
Researchers
found women who naturally had higher levels of testosterone reported
feeling sexual desire more frequently than women with low levels.
Researchers set out to examine the role testosterone and other hormones play in sexual function as women go through menopause.
Women
who had high levels of DHEAS - a precursor to testosterone - also
tended to feel desire more often than women with low levels.
The associations between hormone levels and sexual function remained fairly subtle, Randolph said.
He
noted that women who reported having fewer sad moods and higher levels
of satisfaction in their relationships also reported better sexual
function.
'Women's relationships and day-to-day reality are intricately linked to sexual function,' Randolph says.
'Our
findings suggest menopausal women who are dissatisfied with their
sexual function should consider whether these non-hormonal factors are
playing a role when discussing treatment with a qualified health care
provider.'
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