The metabolic syndrome: a cause of sexual dysfunction in women.

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a significant public health problem. We assessed the prevalence of FSD in premenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome as compared to the general female population. Compared with the control group (N = 80), women with the metabolic syndrome (N = 120) had reduced mean full Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score (23.2+/-5.4 vs 30.1+/-4.7, P < 0.001), reduced satisfaction rate (3.5+/-1.1 vs 4.7+/-1.2, P < 0.01), and higher circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP: 2.2 (0.6/4.9) vs 0.8 (0.2/2.9) mg/l, median (interquartile range), P = 0.01). There was an inverse relation between CRP levels and FSFI score (r = -0.32, P=0.02). Investigation of female sexuality is suggested for patients with the metabolic syndrome.