Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age with the prevalence estimation to be between 2% and 20% in different populations In addition to mood disturbances such as depression and limitations in emotional well-being, and quality of life, the diagnosis of PCOS also has a negative impact on sexual function. PCOS is characterized by enlarged ovaries, menstrual irregularities and clinical and biochemical hyperandrogensim. PCOS is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, lipid disorders, an ovulatory infertility as well as endometrial cancer. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence from studies that determine the characteristics of sexual dysfunction in women with PCOS.
Methods: Searching performed in some databases like PubMed, google scholar, Proquest, Scopus, Springer and Science Direct. Main outcome measures were Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), socio-demographic details and clinical information of PCOS. Major clinical PCOS features including BMI, excessive body hair (hirsutism score), acne, menstrual cycle disturbances, infertility and endocrine profile.
Results: According to studies conducted in recent decades that in these studies, statistical methods have been used, suggests 16 to 64 percent of prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with PCOS.Sexual problems (especially desire and arousal) are more common in women with PCOS. BMI had a significant effect on sexual desire and arousal while the effect of hirsutism was significant on all domains except for dyspareunia. Moreover, a positive association was found between sexual dysfunction and menstrual disturbance.. The causes of sexual dysfunction in women with a similar history are similar, such as obesity or overweight - alopecia or hirsutism – infertility-acne and anxiety and depression associated with them have been reported, among which obesity and infertility have a more negative effected.
Conclusion: It is appeared that there is a correlation between PCOS and Sexual dysfunction, multiple physical signs and psychological disorders associated with them make the PCOS person more vulnerable to sexual dysfunction
Keywords: Sexual dysfunction, Female sexual function index, Polycystic ovary syndrome