Sexual dysfunction in women with clinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism.
BACKGROUND
Hypothyroidism is a common hormonal disorder in women that may affect the phases of female sexual function.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate female sexual function in patients with clinic hypothyroidism and subclinic hypothyroidism.


METHODS
A total of 25 women with clinic hypothyroidism (group 4), 25 women with subclinic hypothyroidism [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) value <or=10 mU/L (group 2), TSH value >10 mU/L (group 3)], and 20 age matched voluntary healthy women controls (group 1) were included in the study. All the subjects were evaluated with a detailed medical and sexual history, including a female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire for sexual status and the Beck Depression Inventory for psychiatric assessment.


METHODS
The levels of serum TSH, thyroid hormones, prolactin (PRL), free testosterone, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, lipid profile, and blood glucose were measured.


RESULTS
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) was diagnosed in 14 of 25 patients (56%) in group 4, in 6 of 11 patients (54.6%) in group 3, in 2 of 14 patients (14.6%) in group 2, and while only 3 of 20 the control group of women (15%) had FSD (P = 0.006). The mean total FSFI scores were 23.9 in the group 4, 26.03 in the group 3, 29.2 in the group 2, and 32.30 in the control group (P < 0.0001). The mean BDI score for clinic hypothyroidic patients was significantly greater than the scores for the control group and for the group 2 (P = 0.017 and P = 0.043, respectively). The mean PRL levels for patients in group 4 and group 3 were found to be significantly higher than the level for controls (P < 0.0001), whereas other serum hormone levels were not different among groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant percent of women with clinic hypothyroidism and subclinic hypothyroidism with TSH values >10 mU/L had sexual dysfunction. Hyperprolactinemia, hyperlipidemia, and depression were associated with FSD in clinic hypothyroidism. Different than clinic hypothyroidism depression was not associated with FSD in subclinic hypothyroidism with TSH values >10 mU/L.
Atis
Gokhan
G
Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Urology, Istanbul, Turkey. gokhanatis@hotmail.com
Dalkilinc
Ayhan
A
Altuntas
Yuksel
Y
Atis
Alev
A
Caskurlu
Turhan
T
Ergenekon
Erbil
E
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011594:Psychometrics; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin