Premature Ovarian Failure and Sexual Dysfunction: Are Androgens to Blame?

Sexual dysfunction is estimated to affect 20% of women in the general population. Although women with premature ovarian failure (POF) are at markedly increased risk for this condition, the relative contributions of multifactorial stressors and androgen deficiencies have yet to be determined. In a Dutch study designed to assess well-being and sexual functioning of women with POF and to determine whether androgen levels correlated with various aspects of sexuality, investigators enrolled 81 women (age range, 20–42) who met criteria for POF. Sixty-eight healthy volunteers (age range, 21–42) with normal menstrual cycles served as controls. Using standardized questionnaires, women reported on sexual fantasies and desire, sexual contact, frequenc…