title: Sexual function in nondepressed women using escitalopram for vasomotor symptoms: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate sexual function in midlife women using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for vasomotor symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors effectively treat vasomotor symptoms but adversely affect sexual function in depressed populations. Information on sexual function in nondepressed midlife women using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for vasomotor symptoms is lacking; any treatments that might impair function are of concern.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized controlled trial comparing 8 weeks of escitalopram with placebo in women ages 40-62 years with 28 or more bothersome vasomotor symptoms per week. Change in Female Sexual Function Index composite score (ranges from 2 [not sexually active, no desire] to 36) and six sexual domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale, and a single-question of sexually-related personal distress from the Female Sexual Distress Scale, were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among all women, median composite baseline Female Sexual Function Index score was 18.1 (interquartile range 2.4-26.5, n=200) and among sexually active women was 22.8 (interquartile range 17.4-27.0, n=75) in the escitalopram group and 23.6 (interquartile range 14.9-31.0, n=70) in the placebo group. Treatment with escitalopram did not affect composite Female Sexual Function Index score at follow-up compared with placebo (P=.18 all women; P=.47 sexually active at baseline). Composite mean Female Sexual Function Index change from baseline to week 8 was 0.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.5 to 1.7) for escitalopram and 2.0 (95% CI 0.2-3.8) for placebo. The Female Sexual Distress Scale results did not differ between groups (P=.73) nor did adverse reports of sexual function. At week 8, among those women sexually active at baseline, there was a small difference between groups in Female Sexual Function Index domain mean score change in lubrication (P=.02) and a marginal nonsignificant difference in orgasm (P=.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Escitalopram, when used in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms, did not worsen overall sexual function among nondepressed midlife women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA. reeds@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Susan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Guthrie
authors.forename: Hadine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joffe
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Shifren
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Seguin
authors.forename: Ellen W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015283:Citalopram / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors