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Updated: Jun 22, 2025

An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
The use of a pill containing ethinylestradiol-norgestimate improves female sexuality despite the decrease in
Maurizio Guida1, Luciano Quercitelli1, Pasquale De Franciscis2
1University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Purpose:
To evaluate the initial impact of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing norgestimate (NGM) on female sexuality and on circulating androgen levels in users.
Materials And Methods:
Six months modification in the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ) and testosterone (T) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) serum levels in women starting a monophasic pill containing ethinyl-estradiol (EE) 35 µg and NGM 0.250 mg.
Results:
The study was completed by 36 subjects. There was a significant increase in MFSQ during treatment (p < 0.0001) (and its domains with the exclusion of vaginal lubrication domain) with concomitant decreases in T (-4.45%, p < 0.0001) and DHEAS (-19.41%, p < 0.0001) serum levels.
Conclusions:
Contraception with EE/NGM was associated with a short term non-deteriorating effect on sexuality despite the evident decrease in androgen levels. Female sexuality during COC use is a complex topic and is not only linked with changes in serum androgen levels.
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