Lower sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome

Małgorzata Kałużna; Agnieszka Nomejko; Aleksandra Słowińska; Katarzyna Wachowiak-Ochmańska; Katarzyna Pikosz; Katarzyna Ziemnicka; Marek Ruchała

doi:10.1530/EC-21-0257

Lower sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome

Endocr Connect. 2021 Aug 30;10(9):1035-1044. doi: 10.1530/EC-21-0257.

Authors

Małgorzata Kałużna¹, Agnieszka Nomejko², Aleksandra Słowińska², Katarzyna Wachowiak-Ochmańska³, Katarzyna Pikosz⁴, Katarzyna Ziemnicka¹, Marek Ruchała¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
² Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Pedagogical and Historical Sciences, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland.
³ Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Diseases Ward, Heliodor Swiecicki University Hospital, Poznan, Poland.
⁴ Department of Pharmacognosy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multi-symptom disorder linked with a range of metabolic and hormonal disturbances. Psychological and sexual aspects of PCOS also need to be considered.

Objective of the study: This study aimed to assess sexual satisfaction (SS) in PCOS patients and eumenorrheic controls (CON). The relationships between SS, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and hormonal and metabolic profiles were evaluated.

Methods: In this study, 190 patients with PCOS (mean age 26.34 ± 5.47 years) and 197 age-matched CON (mean age 27.12 ± 4.97 years) were enrolled. All subjects completed Polish version of the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ), WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CESD-R) questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were collected to assess hormonal, lipid, and glucose profiles. Anthropometric measures were collected. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was evaluated according to the IDF-AHA/NHLBI criteria.

Results: Patients with PCOS and MS had lower SS vs non-MS-PCOS. There were no significant differences in the level of SS, presence of depressive symptoms, or HRQoL between PCOS and CON (P > 0.05). Negative correlations were found between the SS level and BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio in PCOS women. However, overweight or obese PCOS women did not differ in SS levels vs normal-weight PCOS patients. The social dimension of WHOQOL-BREF was the only significant predictor of SS in PCOS patients.

Conclusions: SS in PCOS women appears to be undisturbed. However, MS in PCOS patients could negatively influence SS. The level of SS should be assessed in PCOS women, especially if MS is present.

Keywords: WHO quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF); health-related quality of life (HRQoL); polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); sexual satisfaction; sexual satisfaction questionnaire (SSQ).