Steroid hormones, the menopause, sexuality and well-being of women

TLDR

The study aimed to identify factors influencing sexuality and well‑being among women aged 40‑60. The authors conducted a longitudinal interview and blood‑sample study of 141 women, assessing sexual function and affect with validated scales and used multiple regression to examine age, menopausal status, BMI, smoking, ovarian steroids and adrenal androgens as predictors. Hormonal levels did not predict sexuality; instead, relationship factors, sexual attitudes, and well‑being measures were key, with tiredness the strongest predictor of well‑being and depression, and DHEA the only hormone positively associated with well‑being.

Abstract

One hundred and forty-one women, aged 40-60 years, recruited from the community were assessed with an initial interview, plus four interviews at intervals of 1 week and blood samples. The objective was to investigate the determinants of sexuality and well-being in this sample. Measures included interview ratings of sexual function, Frenken Sexual Experience Scales and the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List. Determinants evaluated, using multiple regression analysis, included age, menopausal status, BMI, smoking, ovarian steroids and adrenal androgens. None of the hormonal parameters significantly predicted measures of sexuality; the most important predictors were other aspects of the sexual relationship, sexual attitudes and measures of well-being. The best predictor of both well-being and depression was tiredness. The only hormone positively related to well-being was dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).