Lorraine Dennerstein1, Philippe Lehert, Henry Burger. 1. Office for Gender and Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. ldenn@unimelb.edu.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relative effects of hormonal and relationship factors on female sexual function during the natural menopausal transition. DESIGN: Prospective population-based questionnaire study. SETTING: Interviews were conducted in the patients' homes. PATIENT(S): Four hundred thirty-eight Australian-born women aged 45-55 years who were still menstruating at baseline. Eight years of longitudinal data were available for 336 of these women, none of whom were hysterectomized. INTERVENTION(S): Hormonal levels, age, menopausal status, partner status, and feelings for partner were measured and evaluated with longitudinal structural equation modeling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Short personal experiences questionnaire. RESULT(S): Sexual response was predicted by prior level of sexual function, change in partner status, feelings for partner, and E2 level (R2 = .65); dyspareunia was predicted by prior level of dyspareunia and E2 level (R2 = .53); and frequency of sexual activities was predicted by prior level of sexual function, change in partner status, feelings for partner, and level of sexual response (R2 = .52). The minimum effective dose needed to increase sexual response by 10% (700 pmol/L E2) is twice that needed to decrease dyspareunia. CONCLUSION(S): Prior function and relationship factors are more important than hormonal determinants of sexual function of women in midlife.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relative effects of hormonal and relationship factors on female sexual function during the natural menopausal transition. DESIGN: Prospective population-based questionnaire study. SETTING: Interviews were conducted in the patients' homes. PATIENT(S): Four hundred thirty-eight Australian-born women aged 45-55 years who were still menstruating at baseline. Eight years of longitudinal data were available for 336 of these women, none of whom were hysterectomized. INTERVENTION(S): Hormonal levels, age, menopausal status, partner status, and feelings for partner were measured and evaluated with longitudinal structural equation modeling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Short personal experiences questionnaire. RESULT(S): Sexual response was predicted by prior level of sexual function, change in partner status, feelings for partner, and E2 level (R2 = .65); dyspareunia was predicted by prior level of dyspareunia and E2 level (R2 = .53); and frequency of sexual activities was predicted by prior level of sexual function, change in partner status, feelings for partner, and level of sexual response (R2 = .52). The minimum effective dose needed to increase sexual response by 10% (700 pmol/L E2) is twice that needed to decrease dyspareunia. CONCLUSION(S): Prior function and relationship factors are more important than hormonal determinants of sexual function of women in midlife.
Authors: Beth A Prairie; Stephen R Wisniewski; James Luther; Rachel Hess; Rebecca C Thurston; Katherine L Wisner; Joyce T Bromberger Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2015-01-26 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Nancy E Avis; Sarah Brockwell; John F Randolph; Shunhua Shen; Virginia S Cain; Marcia Ory; Gail A Greendale Journal: Menopause Date: 2009 May-Jun Impact factor: 2.953