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Sexuality, hormones and the menopausal transition
L Dennerstein1, E C Dudley, J L Hopper
1Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. dennerstein@kewh.unimelb.edu.au
Maturitas
|March 1, 1997
Summary
This study validated a female sexuality questionnaire. Most sexual functioning aspects were unaffected by age, menopausal status, or hormone levels in women aged 48-58.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Female Sexuality Research
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Female sexual function is complex and influenced by physiological and psychological factors.
- Menopause and associated hormonal changes can impact sexual well-being.
- Validated instruments are crucial for reliable assessment of female sexual functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity and reliability of a novel sexuality questionnaire for women.
- To investigate the associations between sexual functioning, age, menopausal status, and hormone levels (estradiol, FSH, inhibin, testosterone, SHBG).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 201 women (aged 48-58) from a longitudinal study.
- Self-completed questionnaire assessed sexual functioning.
- Hormone levels (E2, FSH, inhibin, total T, SHBG) measured during specific cycle days or after amenorrhea.
Main Results:
- The questionnaire demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.71) and identified six key factors of sexual functioning.
- Sexual Responsivity declined with age (P=0.05).
- Vaginal Dryness/Dyspareunia decreased with higher estradiol (E2) levels (P<0.001); testosterone showed no significant association.
Conclusions:
- The developed questionnaire is a reliable tool for assessing female sexual functioning.
- While some aspects like sexual responsivity and vaginal dryness show correlations with age and hormones, most sexual functioning measures were not significantly impacted by age, menopausal status, or hormone levels in this cohort.