Sexuality and psychopathological aspects in premenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that have been suggested to impact female sexual function.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to assess the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in premenopausal women with MetS compared with healthy controls (HC). Psychopathological aspects and the relationship to FSD were also evaluated in both groups.


METHODS
Two hundred four premenopausal women, of whom 98 had diagnosis of MetS, were asked to complete the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), and the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ). Routine laboratory tests and anthropometric measurements were routinely performed.


METHODS
FSFI and FSDS questionnaires, prevalence of FSD, and MHQ scores.


RESULTS
In the MetS group compared with the HC group, we found: a lower global FSFI score (P=0.005), higher prevalence of pathological scores compared with HC group, and lower scores in the desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm domains. An inverse correlation between the FSFI score and the number of risk factors for MetS was detected. MetS women reported significantly higher total scores in the somatization and depression domains when compared with the HC group. The logistic regression showed that high triglycerides (odds ratio [OR] 3.097; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.272-7.542; P=0.026) and somatization (OR 7.068; CI 95% 2.291-21.812; P=0.001) are independently associated with FSD in premenopausal women.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction in MetS women. A number of risk factors for MetS are positively associated with FSD and higher triglycerides seem to be the strongest predictors of sexual dysfunction. Psychopathological dimensions such as somatization are strongly associated with sexual dysfunction.
Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Bologna and S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Stefania
S
Alvisi
Maurizio
M
Baldassarre
Martina
M
Lambertini
Valentina
V
Martelli
Marta
M
Berra
Simona
S
Moscatiello
Giulio
G
Marchesini
Stefano
S
Venturoli
Maria Cristina
MC
Meriggiola
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D009948:Orgasm; D017697:Premenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS); Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD); Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI); Metabolic Syndrome; Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ)