Influence of Dyslipidemia on the Quality of Sexual Life in Women in the Menacme using a Combined Oral Contraceptive / Influência da dislipidemia na qualidade de vida sexual de mulheres na menacme usando contraceptivos orais combinados

ABSTRACT Purpose: Female sexual dysfunction is a complex and common condition that affects women, and the relationship between sexual function and dyslipidemia is poorly studied. This study aims to assess this relationship in the reproductive life women in the menacme who use combined oral contraceptives (COCs) . Methods: A total of 49 healthy women who were sexually active received COC pills that contained ethinylestradiol 30 mcg (EE30) plus levonorgestrel 150 mcg (LNG150). The women were divided into two groups according to their lipid profiles. Dyslipidemia was defined as a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level < 50 mg/dL or a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level > 130 mg/dL. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire. Lipid and lipoprotein parameters were obtained at baseline and after the sixth cycle. Results: After six cycles of the COCs, the total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in the women with a LDL level > 130 mg/dL decreased by 14.7% and 22.1% respectively. In the women with a HDL level < 50 mg/dL at baseline, the HDL level increased by 15.5% at the end of the study. The arousal and orgasm domains and the FSFI total scores significantly increased in women with and without dyslipidemia. The desire and satisfaction domains increased only in the group without dyslipidemia at the end of the treatment period. Conclusions: The EE30/LNG150 formulation increased the sexual function and it was only positively correlated with the HDL cholesterol level. These data indicated a low correlation between sexual function and the changes in the lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.

RESUMO Objetivo: Disfunção sexual feminina é uma condição complexa acomete as mulheres, e a relação entre a função sexual e a dislipidemia é muito pouco estudada. Este estudo objetivou avaliar esta relação em mulheres na menacme que fazem uso de contraceptivos orais combinados (COCs). Métodos: Um total de 49 mulheres saudáveis com vida sexual ativa receberam pílulas anticoncepcionais contendo etinilestradiol 30 mcg (EE30) associado a levonorgestrel 150 mcg (LNG150). As mulheres foram divididas em dois grupos, de acordo com o perfil lipídico. Dislipidemia foi definida como nível de lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL) < 50 mg/dL, ou nível de lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL) > 130 mg/dL. A função sexual feminina foi avaliada utilizando o questionário de Índice de Função Sexual Feminina (IFSF). O IFSF e os parâmetros lipídicos e lipoproteicos foram obtidos no início e após o sexto ciclo do estudo. Resultados: Após seis ciclos de uso dos COCs, as mulheres com LDL > 130 mg/dL, tiveram redução dos níveis de colesterol total e colesterol LDL de 14,7% e 22,1% respectivamente. Nas mulheres com níveis HDL < 50 mg/dL no momento basal, o nível de HDL aumentou 15,5% ao final do estudo. Os domínios de excitação, orgasmo e os escores totais do IFSF aumentaram significativamente nas mulheres com e sem dislipidemia. Os domínios de desejo e satisfação aumentaram no final do período de tratamento exclusivamente no grupo sem dislipidemia. Conclusões: A formulação EE30/LNG150 aumentou a função sexual das mulheres, sendo positivamente correlata somente com os níveis de colesterol HDL. Estes achados demonstram baixa correlação entre a função sexual e as alterações no metabolismo lipídico e lipoproteico.

A systematic review on clinical management of antipsychotic-induced sexual dysfunction in schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction frequently occurs in patients with schizophrenia under antipsychotic therapy, and the presence of sexual side effects may affect compliance. The aim of this study was to review and describe clinical findings relating to the appropriate management of such dysfunctions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was carried out through Medline (from 1966 to March 2005), PsycInfo (from 1974 to March 2005), and Cochrane Library (from 1965 to March 2005) and included any kind of study, from case reports to randomized trials. RESULTS: The most common sexual dysfunctions found in the literature were libido decrease, difficulties in achieving and maintaining erection, ejaculatory dysfunction, orgasmic dysfunction, and menstrual irregularities. Thirteen papers were found: eight of them were open-label studies, four were descriptions of cases, and only one was a randomized clinical trial. All of them were short-term and had small sample sizes. The agents used were: bromocriptine, cabergoline, cyproheptadine, amantadine, shakuyaku-kanzo-to, sildenafil and selegiline. DISCUSSION: There was no evidence that those agents had proper efficacy in treating the antipsychotic-induced sexual dysfunction. An algorithm for managing sexual dysfunction induced by antipsychotics is suggested as a support for clinical decisions. Since the outcome from schizophrenia treatment is strongly related to compliance with the antipsychotics, prevention of sexual dysfunction is better than its treatment, since there is a scarcity of data available regarding the efficacy of intervention to deal with these problems.

INTRODUÇÃO: Disfunção sexual freqüentemente ocorre em pacientes com esquizofrenia em terapia com antipsicóticos e a presença de efeitos adversos sexuais pode afetar a adesão ao tratamento. O objetivo do estudo é rever e descrever achados clínicos relacionados ao manejo apropriado de tais disfunções. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: A pesquisa foi feita pelo Medline (de 1966 a março de 2005), PsycInfo (de 1974 a março de 2005) e Biblioteca Cochrane (de 1965 a março de 2005) e incluiu qualquer tipo de desenho de estudo de relato de caso a estudos clínicos randomizados. RESULTADOS: As disfunções sexuais mais comuns encontradas na literatura foram diminuição da libido, dificuldades em alcançar e manter ereção, disfunção ejaculatória, orgásmica e irregularidades menstruais. Treze artigos foram encontrados: oito deles eram estudos abertos, quatro descrições de casos e somente um estudo clínico randomizado. Todos eram de curta duração e com tamanho de amostra pequeno. Os agentes usados foram: bromocriptina, cabergolina, ciproheptadina, amantadina, shakuyaku-kanzo-to, sildenafil e selegilina. DISCUSSÃO: Não há evidências de eficácia apropriada destes agentes no tratamento da disfunção sexual induzida por antipsicóticos. Um algoritmo foi sugerido para manejo da disfunção sexual induzida por antipsicóticos, suportando decisões clínicas. Como o desfecho da esquizofrenia é fortemente relacionado a adesão ao tratamento com antipsicóticos, a prevenção da disfunção sexual é melhor que seu tratamento, visto que muito poucos dados estão disponíveis sobre a eficácia de intervenções destes problemas.

Función sexual en mujeres usuarias de terapia de reemplazo hormonal / Sexual function in postmenopausal women using hormone replacement therapy

The loss of sexuality observed in the climacteric period is difficult to evaluate. An important advance has been the development of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a test based on the norms of the International Consensus Development Conference on Sexual Female Dysfunctions. Aim: To study the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on sexuality, applying the FSFI. Material and methods: The FSFI was applied to 300 healthy women between 45-64 years, sexually active, beneficiaries of the Southern Metropolitan Health Service. Results: The mean age of the sample studied was 51±5 years, 27% were HRT users, 21% had had an hysterectomy and 98% had a stable couple. The total score of the FSFI decreased from 27.3±5.8 in women between 45 and 49 years of age to 19.3±7.0 in women between 60 and 64 years (p <0.01). A significantly better sexuality was observed in HRT users, with FSFI scores of 28.1±5.5 and 24.6±6.8 in HRT users and non users, respectively (p <0.01). Women on HRT obtained a higher score in all of the test domains, especially in lubrication, orgasm and sexual satisfaction. Conclusions: Female sexuality decreases with aging. HRT users have a better sexual function than non users (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 1251-55 ).