title: Androgens in female genital sexual arousal function: a biochemical perspective.
abstract: Female sexual dysfunction is a highly prevalent, multicausal, and multidimensional medical problem that has a major impact on quality of life and interpersonal relationships. It is hypothesized that genital arousal disorder is caused by diminished arterial blood flow within the hypogastric arterial bed. This hypothesis may explain the pathophysiologic mechanisms in older patients with vascular risk factors, but it does not account for either the prevalence or the mechanisms of arousal disorders seen in young women with no vascular risk factors. Hormonal imbalances may be important contributing factors to the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in female arousal disorders. Androgens modulate the growth and function of female genital sexual organs included the labia, vagina, and clitoris. This article discusses the potential role for androgens in facilitating female genital sexual arousal.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry and Urology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. atraish@bu.edu
authors.forename: Abdulmaged M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Traish
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kweonsik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Ricado
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Munarriz
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007989:Libido; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens