Sexual dysfunction in women with hyperprolactinemia: a pilot study report

Hyperprolactinemia is a common hormonal disorder in women that may affect the phases of female sexual function (FSD). We investigated sexual function in patients with hyperprolactinemia.

A total of 25 women with primary hyperprolactinemia and 16 age matched voluntary healthy women who served as the as control group were evaluated with a detailed medical and sexual history, including a female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. Serum prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, free testosterone, androstenedione, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, estradiol, free thyroxin and thyrotropin were measured. These variables were compared statistically between the 2 groups.

Except for prolactin serum hormone levels in women with hyperprolactinemia were not different from those in the control group. The median total FSFI score was 23.40 (IQR 17.70 to 27.30) in the hyperprolactinemic group, whereas healthy women had a median total FSFI score of 31.10 (IQR 27.55 to 32.88, p < 0.0001). FSD was diagnosed in 22 of 25 patients (88%), while 4 of 16 healthy women (25%) had FSD (p = 0.03). Desire (p = 0.001), arousal (p < 0.0001), lubrication (p = 0.001), orgasm (p = 0.001), satisfaction (p = 0.07) and pain (p = 0.003) domain scores were also significantly lower in women with hyperprolactinemia. Total FSFI (p = 0.009, r = -0.405), desire (p = 0.001, r = -0.512), arousal (p = 0.002, r = -0.466), orgasm (p = 0.026, r = 0.348) and satisfaction (p = 0.041, r = -0.320) scores negatively correlated with mean prolactin but not with the other hormones measured.

A significant percent of women with hyperprolactinemia whom we evaluated had sexual dysfunction. No hormonal changes other than prolactin and no depression was found as a cause of FSD.