title: Sexual behavior and oral contraception: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral contraceptives (OCs) induce mood and libido changes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate in young, eumenorrheic, healthy women the sexual behavior and the genital vascular effects of an OC containing 30 µg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The main outcome measures are McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ), the labia minora thickness and vaginal introitus area, the pulsatility index (PI) of clitoral and labia minora arteries, and hormonal and biochemical assays.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two adult, eumenorrheic, healthy women were administered the two-factor Italian MFSQ. The labia minora thickness was studied by two-dimensional ultrasonographic, and the clitoral and labia minora arteries were evaluated by color Doppler; three-dimensional static volumes of the vulvar area were calculated. Hormonal (estradiol, androstenedione, and testosterone) and biohumoral (sex hormone binding globulin) parameters were assayed. Subjects were studied in baseline conditions and after 3 months of therapy with an OC (Yasmin®, Bayer-Schering Italia, Milan, Italy; -30 µg EE + 3 mg DRSP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3-month treatment, the labia minora thickness and the vaginal introitus area significantly decreased in comparison with the baseline values, whereas the PI of the dorsal clitoral artery and the posterior labial artery significantly increased. The OC use induced a significant decrease of the two-factor Italian MFSQ score, a reduction of the number of intercourse/week, and a reduction of the frequency of orgasm during intercourse. The item 18 (pain during intercourse) worsened after OC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment with Yasmin® (Bayer-Schering Italia) is associated with increased pain during intercourse, with decreased libido and spontaneous arousability, and with diminished frequency of sexual intercourse and orgasm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. cesare.battaglia@unibo.it
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Busacchi
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paganotto
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morotti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venturoli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000736:Androstenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007989:Libido / Q000187:drug effects; D009948:Orgasm / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; C534342:drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combination; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D004958:Estradiol