Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of body weight on sexual function and quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess sexual function (SF) and quality of life (QOL) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess 56 women with PCOS and 102 control women with regular menstrual cycles. To assess SF and QOL in Brazilian women with PCOS with Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the WHOQOL-bref questionnaires.

Results

Women with PCOS had a worse evaluation to arousal, lubrication, satisfaction, pain and total FSFI, and there was no difference in sexual desire and orgasm. Besides, they had a worse evaluation concerning health status than controls. The body mass index was inversely correlated to the QOL, especially to the physical, psychological, environment aspects and self-assessment of QOL, but it did not show correlation to the SF.

Conclusion

Women with PCOS had a worse sexual function and self-assessment of health condition in comparison to controls. The body weight as isolated symptom was correlated to the worsening in quality of life, but not with the worsening of sexual function.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-sponsored PCOS consensus workshop group (2004) Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 81:19–25

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fauser BC, Tarlatzis BC, Rebar RW, Legro RS, Balen AH, Lobo R et al (2012) Consensus on women’s health aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) the Amsterdam ESHERE/ASRM-Sponsored 3rd POCS Workshop Group. Fertil Steril 97:28–38

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Salley KE, Wickham EP, Cheang KI, Essah PA, Karjane NW, Nestler JE (2007) Glucose intolerance in polycystic ovary syndrome—a position statement of the Androgen Excess Society. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 92:4546–4556

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Amsterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored 3rd PCOS Consensus Workshop Group (2012) Consensus on women’s health aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hum Reprod 27:14–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Niet JE, Koning CM, Pastoor H, Duivevvoorden HJ, Valkenburg O, Ramakers MJ et al (2010) Psychological well-being and sexarche in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod 25:1497–1503

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. McCook Reame NE, Thatcher SS (2005) Health related quality of life issues in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 34:12–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Jones GL, Hale JM, Balen AH, Ledger WL (2008) Health-related quality of life measurement in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update 14:15–25

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Barth JH, Catalan J, Cherry CA, Day A (1993) Psychological morbidity in women referred for treatment of hirsutism. J Psychosom Res 37:615–619

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mallon E, Newton JN, Klassen A, Stewart-Brown SL, Ryan TJ, Finlay AY (1999) The quality of life in acne: a comparison with general medical conditions using generic questionnaires. Br J Dermatol 140:672–676

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Downey J, Yingling S, McKinney M, Husami N, Jewelewicz R, Maidman J (1989) Mood disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and distress in women presenting for infertility evaluation. Fertil Steril 52:425–432

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kocelak P, Chudek J, Naworska B, Sosnowska K, Kotlarz B, Mazurek M et al (2012) Psychological disturbances and quality of life in obese and infertile women and men. Int J Endocrinol 5:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Malik-Aslam A, Reaney MD, Speight J (2010) The suitability of polycystic ovary syndrome-specific questionnaires for measuring the impact of PCOS on quality of life in clinical trials. Value Health 13:440–446

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Thomson RL, Buckey JD, Lim SS, Noakes M, Clifton PM, Norman RJ et al (2010) Lifestyle management improves quality of life and depression in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 94:1812–1816

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ercan CM, Coksuer H, Aydogan U, Alanbay I, Keskin U, Karasahin KE et al (2013) Sexual dysfunction assessment and hormonal correlations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Int J Impot Res 25:127–132

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Stovall DW, Scriver JL, Clayton AH, Williams CD, Pastore LM (2012) Sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Sex Med 9:224–230

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ferriman D, Gallwey JD (1961) Clinical assessment of body hair growth in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 21:1440–1447

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S, Meston C, Shabsigh R et al (2000) The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther 26:191–208

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Meston CM, Derogatis LR (2002) Validated instruments for assessing female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther 28:155–164

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Fleck MPA, Louzada S, Xavier M, Chachamovich E, Vieira G, Santos L et al (2000) Aplicação da versão em português do instrumento abreviado de avaliação da qualidade de vida “WHOQOL-bref”. Rev Saúde Publica 34:178–183

  20. The WHOQOL Group (1994) Development of the World Health Organization quality of life assessment instrument (the WHOQOL). In: Orley J, Kuyken W (eds) Quality of life assessment: international perspectives. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 41–69

  21. Tan S, Hahn S, Benson S, Janssen OE, Dietz T, Kimmig R et al (2008) Psycological implications of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Human Reprod 23:2064–2071

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Elsembruch S, Hahn S, Kowalsky D, Offner H, Schedlowski M, Mann K, Janssen OE (2003) Quality of life, psychosocial well-being, and sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88:5801–5807

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hahn S, Janssen OE, Tan S, Pleger K, Mann K, Schedlowski M, Kimmig R, Benson S et al (2005) Clinical and psychological correlates of quality of life in polycystic ovary syndrome. Eur J Endocrinol 153:853–860

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Mansson M, Norstro¨m K, Holte J, Landin-Wilhelmsen K, Dahlgren E, Lande´n M (2011) Sexuality and psychological wellbeing in women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared with healthy controls. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 155:161

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Drosdzol A, Skrzypulec V, Mazur B, Pawlińska-Chmara R (2007) Quality of life and marital sexual satisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Folia Histochem Cytobiol 45:S93–S97

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kaneshiro B, Jensen JT, Carlson NE, Harvey SM, Nichols MD, Edelman AB (2008) Body mass index and sexual behavior. Obstet Gynecol 112:586–592

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Alexander Fleming Avenue, 101, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Cristina Laguna Benetti-Pinto, Silvia Regina Ferreira, Armando Antunes Jr. & Daniela Angerame Yela

Authors
  1. Cristina Laguna Benetti-Pinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Silvia Regina Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Armando Antunes Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Daniela Angerame Yela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Angerame Yela.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Benetti-Pinto, C.L., Ferreira, S.R., Antunes, A. et al. The influence of body weight on sexual function and quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Arch Gynecol Obstet 291, 451–455 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3423-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3423-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation