Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Thyroid hormones affect male and female sexual and reproductive function, but few studies have been performed on sexual dysfunctions in hyper- and hypothyroid women.

Aim of the study: To evaluate female sexual function in untreated and treated hyper- and hypothyroidism and in euthyroid Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT).

Patients and methods: Fifty consecutive women (38.5±8.2 years, range 18–53 years), 22 with hyperthyroidism (20 Graves’ disease, 2 nodular toxic goitre), 17 with hypothyroid and 11 with euthyroid TH were compared to 30 age-matched healthy women (37.5±7.7 years, range 19–50 years). A validated, multidimensional questionnaire on female sexual function domains (FSFI, addressing desire, arousal/lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain) was administered to all participants. Thyroid function was evaluated by measuring TSH, FT3, FT4, TPOAb and TgAb.

Results: With the exception of satisfaction, all sexual domains scores were significantly reduced (P ranging <0.0001–<0.02) in both hyper- and hypothyroid women. After 3 months of therapy able to normalize serum TSH, a significant increase in sexual desire (P<0.01), arousal/lubrication (P<0.005), satisfaction (P<0.05) and pain (P< 0.05) was found in hyperthyroid women, whereas a significant increase in sexual desire (P<0.05) and orgasm (P<0.05) was observed in hypothyroidism; however, both in hyper- and hypothyroid treated patients most sexual domains remained significantly impaired. The small group of euthyroid HT women displayed a significant decrease in sexual desire (P<0.005).

Conclusions: Hyper- and hypothyroidism markedly impair women sexual function. Restoration of euthyroidism rapidly (3 months) improves sexual function, but a longer period may be needed for full normalization. Preliminary data on euthyroid HT women suggest that thyroid autoimmunity may impair sexual desire independently from thyroid function, but further studies are needed to confirm this finding.