Lifestyle Modifications Alone or Combined with Hormonal Contraceptives Improve Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Overview

Journal Fertil Steril

Specialty Reproductive Medicine

Date 2020 Oct 16

PMID 33059886

Citations 7

Authors

Marissa Steinberg Weiss

Andrea Hsu Roe

Kelly C Allison

William C Dodson

Penny M Kris-Etherton

Allen R Kunselman

Christy M Stetter

Nancy I Williams

Carol L Gnatuk

Stepanie J Estes

David B Sarwer

Christos Coutifaris

Richard S Legro

Anuja Dokras

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction in a well-defined polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) population, and to assess the impact of common PCOS treatments on sexual function.

Design: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, oral contraceptive pills and weight loss in PCOS.

Setting: Two academic medical centers.

Patients: Women with PCOS (N = 114) defined by the Rotterdam criteria.

Interventions: Continuous oral contraceptive pill (OCP) or intensive lifestyle modification (Lifestyle) or the combination (Combined) for 16 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures: Change in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R) scores after 16 weeks.

Results: There was no change in total FSFI or FSDS-R score in any treatment group; however, an increase in the FSFI desire domain subscore was observed in the Lifestyle and Combined treatments, indicating improved sexual desire over the 16-week period. Overall, 33 participants (28.9%) met criteria for sexual dysfunction by FSFI criteria (baseline score ≤26.55). Among this group, FSFI score improved after 16 weeks of Lifestyle and Combined treatments. There was no change in prevalence of sexual dysfunction in treatment groups at 16 weeks. Use of OCPs did not alter FSFI scores.

Conclusion(s): Female sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among women with PCOS. Our findings suggest that common treatments for PCOS, including intensive lifestyle modification and the combination of intensive lifestyle modification and OCPs, have the potential to improve sexual function in these women; the mechanism for these improvements is likely multifactorial.

Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT00704912.

Citing Articles

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Total and bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D is not associated with improved sexual dysfunction following vitamin D supplementation in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a pilot study.

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Combined oral contraceptive pill compared with no medical treatment in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review.

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PMID: 36939017 PMC: 10952804. DOI: 10.1111/cen.14913.

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