Fatma Ela Keskin1, Hande Mefkure Özkaya1, Mazhar Ortaç2, Emre Salabaş2, Ateş Kadıoğlu2, Pınar Kadıoğlu1,3. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology-Metabolism and Diabetes, İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey. 2. Department of Urology, İstanbul University İstanbul School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey. 3. Pituitary Center, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the severity of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), quality of life, and depression status in female patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 29 sexually active women with CS and 30 healthy age and body mass index matched women. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were filled by each participant. Plasma levels of FSH, LH, PRL, cortisol, DHEA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, free testosterone, total testosterone and estradiol were measured. RESULTS: Female sexual dysfunction was present in 88.9% of the women with CS and 24.1% of the control group. The CS group showed a lower total FSFI score [16.6 (IQR: 5-23)] compared to the healthy women [26.8 (IQR: 25.5-30.4) (p<0.001)]. The FSFI scores in the arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain and satisfaction domains were all lower in the women with CS (p<0.001). Both summary scores of the SF-36 were reduced in women with Cushing's syndrome compared to the control group (p=0.001). The BDI scores of patients were significantly higher than those of the control subjects (p=0.007). In patients with CS, levels of LH, estradiol, and DHEA-S04 were significantly lower while cortisol (p<0.05), and 17 hydroxyprogestrone levels were higher than control subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that majority of the women with CS had FSD. This may be related to the inhibitory effect of cortisol on sex hormones.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the severity of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), quality of life, and depression status in female patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 29 sexually active women with CS and 30 healthy age and body mass index matched women. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were filled by each participant. Plasma levels of FSH, LH, PRL, cortisol, DHEA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, free testosterone, total testosterone and estradiol were measured. RESULTS: Female sexual dysfunction was present in 88.9% of the women with CS and 24.1% of the control group. The CS group showed a lower total FSFI score [16.6 (IQR: 5-23)] compared to the healthy women [26.8 (IQR: 25.5-30.4) (p<0.001)]. The FSFI scores in the arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain and satisfaction domains were all lower in the women with CS (p<0.001). Both summary scores of the SF-36 were reduced in women with Cushing's syndrome compared to the control group (p=0.001). The BDI scores of patients were significantly higher than those of the control subjects (p=0.007). In patients with CS, levels of LH, estradiol, and DHEA-S04 were significantly lower while cortisol (p<0.05), and 17 hydroxyprogestrone levels were higher than control subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that majority of the women with CS had FSD. This may be related to the inhibitory effect of cortisol on sex hormones.
Authors: Elena Valassi; Alicia Santos; Maria Yaneva; Miklós Tóth; Christian J Strasburger; Philippe Chanson; John A H Wass; Olivier Chabre; Marija Pfeifer; Richard A Feelders; Stylianos Tsagarakis; Peter J Trainer; Holger Franz; Kathrin Zopf; Sabina Zacharieva; Steven W J Lamberts; Antoine Tabarin; Susan M Webb Journal: Eur J Endocrinol Date: 2011-06-29 Impact factor: 6.664