Interactions Between Inflammation and Female Sexual Desire and Arousal Function

Overview

Journal Curr Sex Health Rep

Publisher Springer

Specialty Reproductive Medicine

Date 2020 Dec 14

PMID 33312080

Citations 13

Authors

Tierney K Lorenz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: To describe the current state of research on interactions between inflammation and female sexual function.

Recent Findings: Inflammation may interfere with female sexual desire and arousal via direct (neural) and indirect (endocrine, vascular, social/behavioral) pathways. There are significant sex differences in the effect of inflammation on sexual function, arising from different evolutionary selection pressures on regulation of reproduction. A variety of inflammation-related conditions are associated with risk of female sexual dysfunction, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and chronic pain.

Summary: Clinical implications include the need for routine assessment for sexual dysfunction in patients with inflammation-related conditions, the potential for anti-inflammatory diets to improve sexual desire and arousal function, and consideration of chronic inflammation as moderator of sexual effects of hormonal treatments. Although the evidence points to a role for inflammation in the development and maintenance of female sexual dysfunction, the precise nature of these associations remains unclear.

Citing Articles

Dyspareunia and Biomarkers: A Case Study of Sexual Dysfunction in Moderate Endometriosis.

Nati I, Ciortea R, Malutan A, Oancea M, Iuhas C, Bucuri C Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 26(1.

PMID: 39796020 PMC: 11720033. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26010162.

Inflammation as a Potential Mechanism Contributing to Sexual Functioning Following Initiation of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

Irvin M, Schutz D, Lorenz T Curr Sex Health Rep. 2024; 16(2):104-118.

PMID: 39583291 PMC: 11583339. DOI: 10.1007/s11930-024-00385-2.

Role of estradiol and C-reactive protein levels on genitourinary syndrome in menopausal women.

Siregar M, Terauchi M, Tobing I, Lubis R, Azmeila S, Pasaribu H Narra J. 2024; 4(2):e626.

PMID: 39280318 PMC: 11394173. DOI: 10.52225/narra.v4i2.626.

Systemic immune-inflammatory index and its association with female sexual dysfunction, specifically low sexual frequency, in depressive patients: Results from NHANES 2005 to 2016.

Qing G, He H, Lai M, Li X, Chen Y, Wei B Medicine (Baltimore). 2024; 103(22):e38151.

PMID: 39259084 PMC: 11142814. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038151.

Sex Dimorphism in Pain Threshold and Neuroinflammatory Response: The Protective Effect of Female Sexual Hormones on Behavior and Seizures in an Allergic Rhinitis Model.

Elahi M, Soltani Z, Afrooghe A, Ahmadi E, Dehpour A J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2024; 19(1):16.

PMID: 38652402 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-024-10114-0.

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