title: The metabolic syndrome: a cause of sexual dysfunction in women.
abstract: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a significant public health problem. We assessed the prevalence of FSD in premenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome as compared to the general female population. Compared with the control group (N = 80), women with the metabolic syndrome (N = 120) had reduced mean full Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score (23.2+/-5.4 vs 30.1+/-4.7, P < 0.001), reduced satisfaction rate (3.5+/-1.1 vs 4.7+/-1.2, P < 0.01), and higher circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP: 2.2 (0.6/4.9) vs 0.8 (0.2/2.9) mg/l, median (interquartile range), P = 0.01). There was an inverse relation between CRP levels and FSFI score (r = -0.32, P=0.02). Investigation of female sexuality is suggested for patients with the metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. katherine.esposito@unina2.it
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciotola
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marfella
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Tommaso
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cobellis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giugliano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein