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Hormones and Sex Behavior

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Female Reproductive Dysfunction

Part of the book series: Endocrinology ((ENDOCR))

Abstract

Sex steroids (in particular, testosterone and its metabolite, estradiol) have a lifelong role in establishing and maintaining gender-dimorphic behavioral aspects. In particular, prenatal and pubertal exposure to testosterone influences spatial abilities, emotion and reward processing, and vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Women are dramatically exposed to fluctuation in estrogen and androgen levels (e.g., during the menstrual cycle and at menopausal transition), which are known to modulate many aspects of behavior, including sexuality. Indeed, preclinical and clinical studies have been constantly indicating that estrogens and androgens exert a synergic, facilitatory effect on many different aspects of the female sexual response, stimulating sexual desire through a complex network of neurotransmitters and balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals. Since physiological and pathological variations of sex hormones influence sexual function and dysfunction in women, they represent a major target as therapeutic strategies for female sexual disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andrology, Women’s Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Linda Vignozzi & Elisa Maseroli

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  1. Linda Vignozzi
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  2. Elisa Maseroli
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Correspondence to Linda Vignozzi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Deaprtment of Obstatrics and Gynecology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Caregg, Firenze, Italy

    Felice Petraglia

  2. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Bart CJM Fauser

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Vignozzi, L., Maseroli, E. (2020). Hormones and Sex Behavior. In: Petraglia, F., Fauser, B. (eds) Female Reproductive Dysfunction . Endocrinology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03594-5_6-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03594-5_6-2

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  1. Latest

    Hormones and Sex Behavior
    Published:
    12 April 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03594-5_6-2

  2. Original

    Hormones and Sex Behavior
    Published:
    06 February 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03594-5_6-1

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