title: Impaired Lipid Profile is a Risk Factor for the Development of Sexual Dysfunction in Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dyslipidemia is a common risk factor for cardiovascular disease which may contribute to sexual dysfunction in women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of dyslipidemia compared with other metabolic alterations on female sexual function.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 466 women were enrolled in the study, of which 256 were postmenopausal. Dyslipidemia was defined based on high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, or triglycerides levels. Women completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), and the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ). Biochemical and anthropometric measurements were performed and the Framingham risk score (FRS) was calculated for each subject.
  
  
  METHODS
  FSFI, FSDS, and MHQ scores, prevalence of FSD and FRS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age of the population enrolled was 51.5 (range 42.0-58.0) years. The overall prevalence of FSD, according to FSFI and FSDS scores, was 24%. A significantly higher prevalence of FSFI (P = .001) and FSDS (P = .006) pathological scores were found in women with dyslipidemia compared with the control group. The prevalence of FSD was significantly higher in dyslipidemic women (P = .001). Women with dyslipidemia had significantly higher total scores in areas of depression, somatization, and obsession in the MHQ questionnaire compared with control women. Multivariate analysis showed that dyslipidemia (OR:1.7, CI 1.1-2.9, P = .037), postmenopausal status (OR:2.7, CI 1.5-4.7, P = .001), higher education (OR:0.6; CI 0.3-0.9, P = .038), and somatization (OR:1.7, CI 1.0-2.8, P = .045) were independently associated with FSD. The FRS was higher in dyslipidemic women (P = .001) and in those with FSD (P = .001), being associated with an almost doubled risk of developing FSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that dyslipidemia is an independent risk factor for FSD irrespective of postmenopausal status. Also, psychopathological alterations such as somatization are strongly associated with sexual dysfunction. The direct correlation between FSFI score and FRS suggest the importance of cardiovascular integrity in female sexual health.
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences University of Bologna and Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldassarre
authors.affiliation: Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Bologna and Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alvisi
authors.affiliation: Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Bologna and Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.affiliation: Unit of Metabolic Diseases and Clinical Dietetics, University of Bologna and Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moscatiello
authors.affiliation: Unit of Metabolic Diseases and Clinical Dietetics, University of Bologna and Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchesini
authors.affiliation: Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Bologna and Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seracchioli
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences University of Bologna and Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy; Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Bologna and Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: cristina.meriggiola@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Meriggiola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Dyslipidemia; Female Sexual Distress Scale; Female Sexual Dysfunction; Female Sexual Function Index; Framingham risk score; Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire