Sexual Function in Levothyroxine-Treated Hypothyroid Women and Women without Hypothyroidism: A Case-Control

Abstract

<i>Background:</i> Levothyroxine is the most common treatment to normalize thyroid hormones levels and to reduce primary hypothyroidism symptoms. <i>Aim:</i> To assess sexual function in women with levothyroxine-treated hypothyroidism and women without hypothyroidism. Methods: A case-control study was performed with 152 women with levothyroxine-treated hypothyroidism and 238 women without hypothyroidism. An online survey was used to collect socio-demographic data and the answers to the Women Sexual Function (WSF) questionnaire. <i>Results</i>: Women with levothyroxine-treated hypothyroidism showed a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction than women in the control group (31.60% vs. 16.40%), furthermore the presence of hypothyroidism increased the risk of sexual dysfunction (<i>p</i> = 0.002, OR: 2.29 (1.36-3.88)). The most affected domains were 'desire' (<i>p</i> < 0.001), 'arousal' (<i>p</i> = 0.003) and 'penetration pain' (<i>p</i> = 0.020). In hypothyroid women, age increased the risk of sexual dysfunctions (<i>p</i> = 0.009, OR: 1.07 (1.01-1.12)), however when age was adjusted (ANCOVA) the sexual dysfunction remained in women with hypothyroidism in all domains. <i>Conclusions:</i> Hypothyroidism is associated with an increase in the prevalence of sexual dysfunction even if treated with levothyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are normalized. <i>Relevance to clinical practice:</i> Sexual function in hypothyroid women should be assessed before and after starting the treatment.