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A. Burri, H. Porst, HP-07-002 Association Between Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEAS) and Self-Reported Sexual Functioning in Women, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 16, Issue Supplement_2, May 2019, Pages S42–S43, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.03.148
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Extract
Objective
Despite several previous studies, the relationship between DHEAS and female sexual functioning remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the role of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) for current and lifelong female sexual functioning.
Methods
The cross-sectional study included female individuals (M age 57.58) from the TwinsUK registry. Sexual functioning was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Female Sexual Function Index – Lifelong (FSFI-LL). Serum concentrations of DHEAS, testosterone, estrogen, and SHBG were measured by ElectroChemiLuminescent immunoassays.
Results
When controlling for age, a positive correlation of DHEAS with current pain (rp = 0.105, p<0.05) and lifelong lubrication (rp = 0.094, p<0.01) could be detected. The three groups of women with age-specific low (LD), normal (ND), and high (HD) DHEAS levels, differed significantly in terms of sexual arousal, with the LD group showing significantly lower levels compared to the ND and the HD group (x2 = 9.01; p<0.5). Multilevel regression modelling indicated that the impact of DHEAS on sexual functioning was washed out when including the effects of testosterone, estrogen, and SHBG. Only estrogen turned out to be an independent predictor for lifelong lubrication (p<0.005).