Sexual Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Mendelian randomization analyses reveal causal relationships between chronic psychological stress and risk of erectile dysfunction.","authors":"Wei Wang, Bowen Tang, Zhansen Huang, Sushun Yuan, Hongchen Luan, Hengjun Xiao, Jun Chen","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf014","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The association between psychological stress and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been reported, but the causality of different types of stressors on ED is poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between various forms of psychological stress and ED through Mendelian randomization (MR).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Several genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets related to chronic psychological stress were used in this study for the identification of instrumental variables. Concurrently, a genome-wide association studies database provided the ED outcome data containing 6175 ED patients and 217 630 controls. The MR-Egger, inverse variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, and maximum likelihood methods were applied to conduct the MR study and IVW was taken as the primary criterion.</p><p><strong>Outcomes: </strong>Mendelian randomization analyses revealed that financial difficulties were associated with a heightened risk of ED, whereas the absence of stressors was linked to a decreased risk.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the various types of psychological stressors analyzed, financial difficulties were found to significantly increase the risk of ED (<i>P</i> = .022, OR = 4.343, 95%CI = 1.240-15.216). In contrast, other stressors did not significantly elevate the risk of ED. Furthermore, the absence of these stressors was associated with a reduced risk of ED (<i>P</i> = .009, OR = 0.211, 95% CI = 0.066-0.681).</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>This study emphasizes the enormous impact of psychological stress, especially financial hardship, in increasing the risk of ED.</p><p><strong>Strengths and limitations: </strong>This study is the first to employ MR analysis to investigate the causal relationship between various stressors and ED. However, this study did not consider the influence of non-genetic factors such as living environment and lifestyles.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Psychological stress, particularly financial difficulties, can increase the risk of ED, while the absence of such stressors appears to be protective. Consequently, it is imperative to enhance medical education and awareness among economically disadvantaged populations and to address the detrimental effects of adverse lifestyles.</p>","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfaf014"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11937817/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143721371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between C-reactive protein-triglyceride glucose index and testosterone levels among adult men: analyses of NHANES 2015-2016 data.","authors":"Bo Zhang, Yi Gu, Yiming Chen, Wei Xia, Naiyuan Shao, Qianfeng Zhuang, Xingliang Feng","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf012","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The C-reactive protein-triglyceride glucose index (CTI) is a recently introduced index designed to simultaneously assess inflammation (via CRP) and insulin resistance (via the triglyceride-glucose index, TyG), both of which are recognized risk factors for declining testosterone levels in men.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study investigates the association between CTI and low testosterone levels in American adult men, aiming to evaluate CTI as a predictor of low testosterone level.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from the 2015-2016 NHANES were used in this cross-sectional study, including men aged 20 and older. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between CTI, total testosterone levels, and the risk of low testosterone level. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to assess the predictive performance of CTI for low testosterone level.</p><p><strong>Outcomes: </strong>The primary outcome was testosterone levels, with low testosterone level defined as a serum testosterone level below 300 ng/dL in adult men.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 878 participants, 189 had low testosterone level. The mean CTI was significantly higher in the low testosterone level group (9.39 ± 0.09) compared to the non- low testosterone level group (8.62 ± 0.05; <i>P</i> < .0001). After adjusting for covariates, higher CTI was significantly associated with lower total testosterone levels (β = -44.6, 95% CI: -66.34, -22.87, <i>P</i> < .001) and increased low testosterone level risk (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.57, <i>P</i> = .002). ROC analysis showed that CTI (AUC = 0.7357, 95% CI: 0.6975, 0.7739) outperformed TyG and VAI in predicting low testosterone level, highlighting its potential clinical value in assessing low testosterone status.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Timely monitoring of testosterone levels in individuals with elevated CTI is clinically significant. Additionally, for those with TD, regular assessment of CTI may help in preventing future cardiovascular complications.</p><p><strong>Strengths and limitations: </strong>This study is the first to explore the relationship between CTI and low testosterone using a large sample from the NHANES database. However, due to the cross-sectional design, causal inference regarding CTI and low testosterone level cannot be drawn.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CTI appears to be a more effective predictor of low testosterone level than TyG, CRP, or VAI, suggesting its usefulness as a simple, low-cost indicator for early TD risk assessment. Further research is needed to verify its clinical applicability across diverse populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfaf012"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11890278/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143586830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sexual satisfaction and function (SatisFunction) survey post-vaginoplasty for transgender and gender diverse individuals: preliminary development and content validity for future clinical use.","authors":"Amine Sahmoud, Rebekah Russell, Erika Kelley, Elad Fraiman, Carly Goldblatt, Matthew Loria, Kirtishri Mishra, Shubham Gupta, Rachel Pope","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf011","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Transgender and gender diverse individuals (TGDIs) are people whose gender identity is not in line with their sex assigned at birth, but current surveys used for cisgender patients addressing sexual satisfaction and function (SFS) do not fit the needs of this unique population.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The authors of this project sought to create and validate a new comprehensive survey in North American English that differs from the current options for TGDI post-vaginoplasty.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Using the current literature on SFS as a foundation, a 26-item survey was created and distributed to 16 TGDI at least 3 months post-vaginoplasty. Feedback and review for content validity took place in the forms of interviews with the 16 TGDI, an expert panel, and the creation of a community advisory board.</p><p><strong>Outcomes: </strong>Feedback was incorporated to transform the original 26-item questionnaire into a 32-question survey with eight domains, named the SatisFunction Survey Post-Vaginoplasty, which represents the preliminary development and content validity of the survey, with its clinical use not recommended until further validation steps are completed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Feedback focused on improving the clarity of questions to address sexual vs non-sexual behaviors, providing definitions of terms in the question stems for improved user understanding, including more questions on specific anatomic locations, addressing gender dysphoria as it relates to genital self-image, specifying type of vaginoplasty and only including questions relevant to those with or without a vaginal canal.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>The authors foresee clinical use of the survey for recurrent assessment in the postoperative period as well as post-revision.</p><p><strong>Strength and limitations: </strong>Community-based research is essential in developing an assessment tool tailored to the unique needs of a specific population. This study presents the findings of preliminary content validation but requires further validation before clinical use, and is limited by a small sample size from a single-site institution.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Future directions involve completing the validation process for the survey with distribution to a larger TGDI population with other validated surveys with a subsequent cohort interview to address construct and divergent validity as well as reliability.</p>","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfaf011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11890106/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143586833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling consumer interest and regional disparities: comparative analysis of online search trends for penile aesthetic procedures.","authors":"Elia Abou Chawareb, Jasmin Banton, Muhammed A M Hammad, Supanut Lumbiganon, Babak Azad, Jake Miller, Faysal A Yafi","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf013","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aesthetic procedures for penile enhancement, such as the Penuma silicone sleeve implant, have gained increasing attention for addressing concerns like perceived size, buried or retractile penis, and mild curvature.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the online search interest over time for penile enhancement modalities, analyze the trends, and explore any regional disparities in search patterns.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Google Trends data from June 18, 2018, to June 11, 2023, were utilized to analyze search interest for Penuma, penile implant, penile girth, Hyaluronic acid (HLA) injection, and penis injection. The results were compared to the trend data for Penuma from 2004 to 2023. Trendlines were generated to assess the changes in search interest over time and determine if they followed a random or polynomial trend. The highest search interest locations were identified for each term, and the corresponding regional gross domestic product values were collected.</p><p><strong>Outcomes: </strong>Search interest was assessed in terms of volume, temporal trends, and regional disparities.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Understanding regional and temporal search patterns for penile enhancement can guide healthcare professionals and policymakers in developing targeted educational initiatives and allocating resources to meet patient needs.</p><p><strong>Strengths and limitations: </strong>The use of Google Trends provides a comprehensive and real-time assessment of public interest over a broad timeframe and geographic range. However, search interest data may not fully capture actual patient behaviors or clinical demand, and the analysis relies on assumptions about search terms accurately reflecting consumer intent.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Penuma initially garnered interest upon its introduction in 2004 but experienced a decline until around March 2021. Comparing Penuma with other terms, general searches for penile implant and penile girth exhibited significantly higher interest than Penuma. The trendlines indicated increasing search interest for penile implant and HLA injection, while Penuma demonstrated a declining trend. In terms of regional disparities, the highest search interest for Penuma was observed in San Antonio, TX, while penile girth searches were highest in Oklahoma City, OK. Penile implant searches were prominent in Mobile, AL, and Birmingham, AL. Notably, HLA injection searches peaked in New York, NY, and penis injection searches were most prevalent in Los Angeles, CA.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study reveals that online interest in Penuma lags other penile enhancement terms, with notable regional disparities in search patterns. These findings underscore the need for further research to understand the factors influencing these trends and to help healthcare professionals tailor educational efforts and resources to diverse consumer needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfaf013"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11890111/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143586811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of the psychometric evidence of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) & measurement invariance across relationship status & age generations in a Chilean sample.","authors":"Gonzalo R Quintana, Fernando P Ponce, J Francisco Santibáñez-Palma, Javier Escudero-Pastén, Carolina P Aguayo-Zuñiga, Mercedes Carrasco-Portiño, Marcela Cid-Aguayo, Mauricio González-Arias, Paola Ilabaca, Rodrigo Jarpa-Schäcker, Claudio López-Labarca, Marco A Marrodán, Nadia Ramos, Leonardo Reyes-Torres, Valeria Rosales-Pincetti, María T Solis-Soto, Anna Wlodarczyk, Jaime Barrientos","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf010","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf010","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Inconsistencies in the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) factor structure and current research and clinical guidelines highlight the need for continued exploration of its psychometric evidence. Furthermore, only one study has assessed its measurement invariance (MI), while the only FSFI psychometric study conducted in Chile lacks quality and representativity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Aim: &lt;/strong&gt;Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the FSFI (ie, structural and convergent validity, and reliability) in a Chilean sample of women, while also examining MI across relationship status and age groups.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Method: &lt;/strong&gt;A sample of 2595 sexually active adult women (&lt;i&gt;M&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sub&gt;age&lt;/sub&gt; = 32.10, &lt;i&gt;SD&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sub&gt;age&lt;/sub&gt; = 10) was derived from a broader Chilean study (Chilean National Sex and Sexuality Study). We used a confirmatory factor analysis to determine its structural validity, sexual satisfaction (SS) dimensions to establish its convergent validity, and Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega to assess the reliability of its scores.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Outcomes: &lt;/strong&gt;Measures of goodness-of-fit.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Confirmatory factor analysis supported a six-factor structure. Internal consistency indices for all FSFI dimensions ranged from good to excellent. MI was achieved across socio-demographic variables at the factor covariance level. Convergent validity indicated modest-to-moderate effects in satisfaction differences based on relationship status. Among other findings, Chilean women in a relationship had significantly higher satisfaction with their sexual communication and compatibility than those who were single, which is consistent with previous findings. Meanwhile, women at risk of experiencing sexual problems scored significantly lower across all SS dimensions than those not at risk.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Clinical implications: &lt;/strong&gt;This study provides evidence that the FSFI is a valid, reliable, and invariant tool for the clinical practice in the sexual health of Spanish-speaking Latino Americans, especially that of Chilean women's sexual function (SF) and problems.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Strengths & limitations: &lt;/strong&gt;This study provided a comprehensive analysis of the FSFI's psychometric validity evidence, demonstrating its reliability and validity across diverse Chilean women while also offering its first assessment of MI and confirming its suitability for clinical and research use in Spanish-speaking Latino women. Conversely, this study's main caveat lies in having a predominantly younger, cisgender, and heterosexual sample.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Nevertheless, this study's findings support the FSFI as a valuable research tool for female SF and well-being, particularly within the Chilean population. This study significantly expands the applicability of the FSFI and underscores its MI across sociodemographic factors, as well as its applicability in the","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfaf010"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11879574/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143557714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The conserved molecular mechanism of erectile dysfunction in type 2 diabetes rats and mice by cross-species transcriptomic comparisons.","authors":"Ming Xiao, Huanqing Zeng, Yanghua Xu, Jiarong Xu, Xiaoli Tan, Yuxin Tang","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf007","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The poor clinical situation of type 2 diabetes-induced erectile dysfunction (T2DMED) creates an urgent need for new therapeutic targets.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To reveal the conserved molecular mechanism of T2DMED across species.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>T2DMED rat and mouse models were constructed to extract mRNA from corpus cavernosum for high-throughput sequencing. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Ontology (GO), and Protein-Protein Interaction Networks were performed by bioinformatics methods. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, hematoxylin- eosin and Masson staining were used for subsequent verification.</p><p><strong>Outcomes: </strong>Cross-species transcriptomics of T2DMED rats and mice were analyzed and validated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Gene expression patterns in normal corpus cavernosum of mice and rats showed a strong correlation (r = 0.75, <i>P</i> < 2.2 × 10^-16), with a total of 15 691 homologous genes identified. In both species, 553 homologous down-regulated DEGs were identified, mainly enriched in pathways related to smooth muscle and mitochondrial functions, as revealed by KEGG and GO analyses. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence confirmed the decreased expression of α-smooth muscle actin and <i>Uqcr10</i> in cavernosum tissues of T2DMED mice and rats. Additionally, 239 homologous up-regulated DEGs were identified, which were enriched in the <i>Wnt</i> signaling pathway and extracellular matrix composition. Subsequent experiments confirmed increased β-catenin expression and significant collagen accumulation, indicating fibrosis in T2DMED.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>To provide a new direction for improving the erectile ability of patients with T2DMED.</p><p><strong>Strengths and limitations: </strong>The main strength is that cross-species transcriptomic sequencing has revealed the conserved molecular mechanisms of T2DMED. The main limitation is the lack of further validation in the T2DMED patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cross-species transcriptomic comparisons may offer a novel strategy for uncovering the underlying mechanisms and identifying therapeutic targets for T2DMED.</p>","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfaf007"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11879191/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143557924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health consensus algorithm for persistent genital arousal disorder/genito-pelvic dysesthesia to 10 cases and use of epidural spinal injections as long term management.","authors":"Hannah Ahrendt, Salim Hayek, Sheryl Kingsberg, Anna Myers, Rachel Pope","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf008","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Persistent genital arousal disorder/genito-pelvic dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD) is a debilitating, but poorly understood disorder. To address the lack of knowledge regarding mechanism and treatments, the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) consensus statement proposed a region-based approach for management of PGAD/GPD, including possible etiologies. Annular tears of the lumbar intervertebral disc are a recently acknowledged etiology of PGAD/GPD, and current evidence suggests that management of symptomatic tears resistant to non-invasive treatment may require lumbar endoscopic spinal surgery.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This case series offers 10 cases of PGAD/GPD symptoms, in order to describe resource efficient management, including use of epidural spinal injections to reduce barriers to care for this debilitating condition.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Individuals were identified by investigators in clinical practice. Electronic medical record notes and relevant imaging from the past 3 years were reviewed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Half of the patients tried three or more treatments before finding any symptomatic relief. Two patients, with annular tears evident on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), found complete relief with epidural spinal injections. A patient with hypertonic pelvic floor found total relief with pelvic floor physical therapy. Two patients found alleviation of symptoms with discontinuation of triggering medications, and four patients had palliation of symptoms with gabapentin and/or pregabalin.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These cases demonstrate the utility of the ISSWSH consensus algorithm in guiding initial diagnosis and treatment of PGAD/GPD. However, flexibility is important in management to choose the appropriate treatment pathway to provide the most effective symptom management. Current evidence suggests the use of epidural spinal injections for temporary symptom relief, however, this case series suggests its use for long term management.</p>","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfaf008"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11879244/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143557855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Different temporal relationship between sex hormones and sleep status in midlife women: a longitudinal cohort study.","authors":"Dongyuan Ma, Tong Zhang","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf009","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fluctuation in sex hormones and the occurrence of sleep disturbance are 2 major health challenges among midlife women. However, the temporal relationship between them remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included 2488 females (mean ± SD age, 49.0 ± 2.70 years) with an average follow-up of 6.95 years. We constructed a composite score by summing items related to sleep problems to reflect the comprehensive sleep status of the participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Cross-lagged path analysis was used to examine the temporal relationship between sex hormones and sleep status. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in nonoverweight and overweight groups and adjusted for vasomotor symptoms in the main model.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>In this study, we aimed to examine the temporal relationship between sex hormones and sleep status in midlife women using cross-lagged path analysis.</p><p><strong>Outcomes: </strong>The primary outcomes included results of the cross-lagged path analysis between sex hormones and sleep status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After adjusting for age, race, income, menopausal status, body mass index, hormone therapy use, smoking, and drinking, the cross-lagged path coefficients from baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) to follow-up sleep status were 0.054 (<i>P</i> = .017) and -0.054 (<i>P</i> = .016), respectively. The path coefficient from baseline sleep to follow-up dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) was 0.042 (<i>P</i> = .017). The path coefficients between testosterone and sleep were not statistically significant. In the nonoverweight group, the patterns of the temporal relationship between sex hormones and sleep were the same as the total sample, and the point estimates were larger. However, the temporal relationships in the overweight group were nonsignificant. After adjustment for vasomotor symptoms in the main model, results were basically consistent.</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>Given the temporal relationship between sex hormones and sleep, our findings will provide scientific perspectives to benefit health management in the transition of menopause.</p><p><strong>Strengths and limitations: </strong>This study used a longitudinal theoretical model to distinguish the temporal relationship between sex hormones and sleep status in midlife women. Limitations include limited causal evidence in observational studies, unknown confounders, and careful extrapolation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There were distinct patterns in the unidirectional temporal relationship between (1) FSH, E2, and DHAS and (2) sleep. Changes in FSH and E2 occurred earlier than the change of sleep, while the change of DHAS was later. In contrast, there was no temporal relationship between testosterone and sleep.</p>","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfaf009"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11879248/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143557922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Maltese Perspective of Sex: a Maltese cross-sectional study.","authors":"Matthew Bartolo, Vincent Marmara, Danica Cassar, Arianna Miclet","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfae095","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfae095","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;This research constitutes a pioneering cross-sectional investigation into sexual behaviors within the Maltese population, centered on the examination of meaning of sex, sex frequency, sex duration, sexual satisfaction, and discussions about sex.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Aim: &lt;/strong&gt;The aim of this study is to explore how the Maltese define the term \"sex\" and with whom they discuss sexual matters while testing the hypotheses that the frequency and duration of sexual activity, as well as the discussion of sexual matters, influence sexual satisfaction.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Data were collected via a computer-assisted telephone interview method, using a randomized sample of 400 Maltese adults aged 18 and above. The questionnaire included 33 items addressing various aspects of sexual behavior. The responses were analyzed using SPSS, applying Mann-Whitney &lt;i&gt;U&lt;/i&gt;, Kruskal-Wallis, and chi-square tests to assess relationships between variables.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Outcomes: &lt;/strong&gt;To gauge participants' sexual satisfaction, respondents were tasked with rating their contentment with their sexual lives on a scale from 1 to 5.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Results revealed that 26.9% of respondents defined sex as a \"sexual act between two persons,\" while 26.8% linked it to \"an act of love.\" Few participants associated sex with pleasure or intimacy, reflecting possible conservative cultural influences. A majority (61.7%) felt comfortable discussing sexual matters with their partners, while only 26.6% were comfortable doing so with friends. The average sexual frequency was 5.69 times per month. Sexual satisfaction was positively correlated with frequency as individuals reporting more frequent sex were generally more satisfied with their sex lives. However, no significant association was found between the duration of sexual activity and sexual satisfaction.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Clinical translation: &lt;/strong&gt;The study's clinical implications provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers grappling with sexual health concerns within the Maltese population.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Strengths and limitations: &lt;/strong&gt;This pioneering study provides new insights into sexual behaviors in Malta, with stratified sampling enhancing the sample's representativeness. However, social desirability and recall bias may affect the accuracy of self-reported data, and the focus on age, gender, and relationship status overlooks other factors, such as cultural or religious influences, that may offer a deeper understanding of sexual behaviors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;The Maltese population demonstrates a diverse understanding of \"sex\" while also revealing that most individuals feel comfortable discussing sexual matters with partners but not with friends; additionally, the population reports an average sexual frequency of 5 times per month, lasting between 26 and 45 minutes, with the majority expressing overall satisf","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfae095"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11843095/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143484007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The assessment of the sexuality of patients with a borderline personality disorders based on their 2D:4D digit ratio.","authors":"Justyna Holka-Pokorska, Adam Kucharski","doi":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf006","DOIUrl":"10.1093/sexmed/qfaf006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The hormonal composition of amniotic fluid during prenatal development, particularly the androgen-to-estrogen ratio, may influence neuronal differentiation related to sexual response patterns and the capacity to control impulsive sexual behaviors in later life.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to assess sexual behaviors and characterize sexual responses in women with borderline personality disorder (BPD) compared to a control group.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 33 women diagnosed with BPD and 56 women in a control group. BPD diagnoses were based on clinical psychiatric evaluation and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Elements of sexual response were measured using the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX). The digit ratio (2D:4D) served as a biomarker for testosterone and estrogen exposure during early prenatal development.</p><p><strong>Main outcomes: </strong>ASEX results were analyzed in the categories of \"desire,\" \"arousal,\" and \"vaginal lubrication\" subscales, along with the 2D:4D digit ratio for both hands.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lower values for the right-hand digit ratio were observed in the BPD group compared to the control group (0.989, SD = 0.034 vs. 1.016, SD = 0.039; <i>P</i> = 0.0014), potentially indicating higher prenatal testosterone levels. Significant correlations were found in the BPD group between the right-hand digit ratio and scores on the ASEX subscales, specifically \"sexual arousal\" (<i>r</i> = 0.406, <i>P</i> = 0.019) and \"vaginal lubrication\" (<i>r</i> = 0.362, <i>P</i> = 0.038).</p><p><strong>Clinical implications: </strong>These results may support biological hypotheses regarding the origins of sexual dysfunction in women with BPD.</p><p><strong>Strengths and limitations: </strong>This study is a pioneering attempt to explore the indirect impact of early amniotic hormone composition on the neurobiological conditioning of sexual response and behavior in women with BPD. Limitations include the preliminary nature of the findings, a small sample size, and results that may not be generalizable across all genders.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physiological aspects of sexual response, such as arousal and vaginal lubrication, in women with BPD appear to be significantly correlated with prenatal testosterone levels, as indicated by the 2D:4D digit ratio.</p>","PeriodicalId":21782,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Medicine","volume":"13 1","pages":"qfaf006"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11828702/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143433711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}