Mental wellbeing and quality of sexual life in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome are related to circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible effect of androgen status on sexuality and mental wellbeing in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).


METHODS
Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), testosterone (T), androstenedione, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and the SHBG/T ratio were measured in 21 women with pSS. Sexual life was assessed by a Swedish version of the McCoy scale, which covers sexual experience and responsiveness during the past 30 days. A standardised questionnaire, the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB), was used to examine quality of life and psychological symptoms in patients with pSS.


RESULTS
Positive correlations were found between DHEA-S serum levels and the total McCoy score (r(s)=0.62; p<0.01), as well as the subscales of this score reflecting arousal (0.59; p<0.05), desire (r(s)=0.52; p<0.05), and satisfaction (r(s)=0.66; p<0.01). Serum DHEA-S concentrations were also related to the total PGWB score (r(s)=0.60; p<0.01) and subscales of this score: depression (r(s)=0.62; p<0.01), wellbeing (r(s)=0.64; p<0.01), general health (r(s)=0.67; p<0.01), and self control (r(s)=0.67; p<0.01). Total McCoy and PGWB scores and their subscales were not related to the serum levels of testosterone and androstenedione or the T/SHBG ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
Circulating levels of the weak androgen DHEA-S are positively related to the quality of sexual life and mental wellbeing in women with pSS.
Valtysdottir
S Th
ST
Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. sigridur.valtysdottir@medsci.uu.se
Wide
L
L
Hallgren
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate