Abstract
SD in premenopausal obese women is frequent but the association with OSA has not been well recognized. We enrolled 35 women (age 41.4±7.7 yrs; BMI 42.8±5 kg/m2, waist circumference 130.6±10.3 cm) that were evaluated by means of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), as well as hormonal and metabolic assessment. The presence of OSAS was assessed by a full standard polysomnography. The FSFI total score was 24.2±11.1 with 10 women scoring <20 (Italian lower limit of normality), while FSDS was 15.5±13.4 with 16 women scoring > 15. Mean GHQ score was 4.3±3.7 and PSS median score 21.3±8.4, suggesting psychological distress. Mean LH, FSH and Estradiol values were in the normal range for the age. 22 women meet the criteria for OSAS diagnosis and 15 showed excessive daytime sleepiness. A statistically significant difference between women with abnormal or normal FSDS score was found for AHI (39.4±38 vs 18.8±15, p=0.03), GHQ (5.9±3.5 vs 2.9±3.3, p<0.01) and PSS (25.1±8.4 vs 18.1±7, p<0.01), respectively. A statistically significant correlations was found between AHI and FSDS (r=0.48, p=0.003), GHQ (r=0.42, p=0.01), or PSS score (0.39, p=0.02) but not with FSFI score that was only correlated to BMI (r=0.4, p=0.01). We conclude that obese women with OSAS showed an high prevalence of SD. Sexual function seems to be related to obesity itself while the sexual distress to the severity of OSA.
- © 2011 ERS
