title: Effects of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid autoimmunity on female sexual function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid hormones affect male and female sexual functions, but data in hypo- and hyperthyroid women are scanty.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate sexual function in hypo- and hyperthyroid women before and immediately after restoration of euthyroidism and in women with euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six women with thyroid diseases (age 19-50 yr; 22 with hyperthyroidism, 17 with hypothyroidism, and 17 with euthyroid HT) and 30 age-matched healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypoactive sexual desire, disorders of sexual arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and sexual pain (SPD) were assessed by Female Sexual Function Index. Serum TSH, free T4 (FT4) and thyroid autoantibodies (anti-thyroglobulin, anti-thyroperoxidase, and TSH-receptor antibodies) were assessed at the diagnosis; FT4 and TSH were repeated after treatment to confirm normalization of thyroid function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All sexual domains scores were significantly reduced (p ranging <0.0001-<0.05) in both hypo- and hyperthyroid women. Correction of hypothyroidism was associated to normalization of desire, satisfaction, and pain, while arousal and orgasm remained unchanged. In hyperthyroid women therapy normalized sexual desire, arousal/lubrication, satisfaction, and pain, while orgasm remained significantly impaired. Interestingly, euthyroid HT women displayed a significant decrease in sexual desire (p<0.0005), with no changes in the other sexual domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both hypo- and hyperthyroidism markedly impair female sexual function. A rapid improvement is observed with the restoration of euthyroidism, although a longer period of time may be needed for full normalization. Preliminary data suggest that thyroid autoimmunity may selectively impair sexual desire, independently from thyroid function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences M. Aresu, University of Cagliari and Endocrinology Unit, A.O.U. Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oppo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atzeni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taberlet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mariotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones