title: Subclinical Hypothyroidism is not a Risk Factor for Female Sexual Dysfunction in Korean Middle-Aged Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have suggested that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with the risk of anxiety or depression and can affect quality of life. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and female sexual dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of sexually active middle-aged women (≥40 years old) who visited the center for health promotion and optimal aging at Seoul National University Hospital for a health check-up between 2010 and 2011. Sexual function was evaluated by the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire, and female sexual dysfunction was defined as a FSFI score of ≤26.55. FSFI scores and female sexual dysfunction frequencies were compared between cases with subclinical hypothyroidism and healthy controls. Nonparametric methods were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1086 women were included, and the frequency of subclinical hypothyroidism and female sexual dysfunction was 138 (12.7%) and 741 (68.2%), respectively. The total FSFI score and the scores in each domain were not different between the two groups (median total FSFI score (interquartile range): 23.8 (20.2-27.5) for normal thyroid status vs. 24.4 (20.6-27.6) for subclinical hypothyroidism, p=n.s.). The frequency of female sexual dysfunction was not different between the two groups, either (68.4% for normal thyroid status vs. 67.4% for subclinical hypothyroidism, p=n.s.). These findings were consistent even after adjustment for confounding variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subclinical hypothyroidism is not a risk factor for sexual dysfunction in middle-aged women.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.|2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fertility Center, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.|4 Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Jae
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: 4 Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.|5 Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: 4 Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.|5 Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: 4 Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.|5 Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 4 Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.|5 Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: 4 Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.|5 Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul, Korea.|6 Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University , Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.|7 Institute on Aging, Seoul National University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Belong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine , Seoul, Korea.|2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires