Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of age, disease duration, glycaemic control and diabetic nephropathy for the sexual function of women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D).

Methods: Study subjects – 18–52 year old women with type 1 diabetes. Participants filled the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and questionnaires about T1D, disease duration, glycaemic control and complications. Laboratory tests including glycated hemoglobin (HbA₁C), creatinine, testosterone, Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol levels and albumin in 24h urine sample were performed. Postmenopausal women were excluded from the study. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) was diagnosed based on FSFI total score lower than 26.55.

Results: 113 women (mean age 34.82±8.34) with T1D were included to the study. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) was diagnosed to 43.4% (mean age 35.24±9.50), 56.6% had no DN (mean age 34.50±7.50). FSD was diagnosed to 42.6% (N=40) of participants. Neither age nor disease duration had influence to FSD. Worse glycaemic control had a statistically significant impact to the prevalence of FSD (P=0.028). Negative correlations between participant age and FSFI subscales of desire and arousal were observed (P<0.001). Lubrication (P=0.015) and orgasm (P=0.027) subscales were negatively affected by age only in the group of DN. Statistically significant negative impact was found between glycaemic control and lubrication in group without DN (P=0.009). There was no statistically significant difference between FSFI scores or sex hormones and disease duration or DN. Free androgen index had impact neither to the FSFI subscale scores nor to total score. Negative SHGB and high glycaemic level correlation was observed only in DN group (P=0.031).

Conclusion: Female sexual function is often diagnosed in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Sexual function correlates with glycaemic control and age. Worse glycaemic control has negative impact to SHBG levels.