Noncontrast dynamic magnetic resonance imaging for quantitative assessment of female sexual arousal

We evaluated a noncontrast, dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique for quantitative evaluation of the female sexual arousal response and compared these results with those of a previously described, contrast enhanced MRI technique.

Eight normal, healthy volunteer women underwent 2 separate MRI sessions, during which they were shown audiovisual material consisting of interleaved neutral and audiovisual sexual stimulation segments. Serial high resolution MRI of the genital structures was done at 3-minute intervals during a 45-minute period. Images were analyzed in blinded fashion and measurements of clitoral volume with time were obtained for each subject. Measured clitoral volumes together with the percent change in clitoral volume during audiovisual sexual stimulation for MRI sessions 1 and 2 were compared within subjects. Results were also compared to those of prior contrast enhanced MRI studies in the same subjects.

There was excellent intrasubject reproducibility between sessions 1 and 2 using the noncontrast MRI technique (r = 0.99). There was also excellent agreement between the current noncontrast study and prior contrast enhanced studies with a correlation coefficient of 0.89.

Dynamic, noncontrast MRI of the female genitalia appears to be a reproducible, nonintrusive and objective way to assess quantitatively the sexual arousal response in women without sexual difficulties.