title: Clitoral artery blood flow in healthy young women: preliminary report on menstrual cycle and hormonal contraception.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to measure clitoral artery blood flow throughout the menstrual cycle and in oral contraceptive users. We recruited healthy young women (n = 19, age range: 21-28 years; body-mass index: 18-23 kg/m2) without sexual dysfunction (Female Sexual Functioning Index criteria; Rosen et al., 2000). Clitoral arterial peak systolic velocity (PSV) in at least two phases of the same ovulatory cycle or during the second week of the pill was measured by doppler ultrasonography. Clitoral arterial PSV measures (cm/s) were superimposable during the follicular and the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (10.4 +/- 1.2 versus 10.2 +/- 1.6), whereas a slight but significant increase (12.2 +/- 1.2, f = 3.99; p < 0.04) was evident at the time of ovulation. In addition, PSV measures were significantly higher in women taking hormonal contraception compared to women studied throughout the menstrual cycle (14.2 +/- 2.7 versus 10.8 +/- 1.5; p < .001). Whether or not these preliminary data may be of any significance to female sexual arousal throughout the menstrual cycle remains to be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. renappi@tin.it
authors.forename: Rossella E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veneroni
authors.forename: Giovanni M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Colpi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferdeghini
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Polatti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002987:Clitoris / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects*; D003267:Contraception; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal