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* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: giuseppelombardi{at}interfree.it.
Objective: To investigate a possible correlation between sexual hormonal status and presence of female sexual dysfunctions (FSD) through the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in females with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Methods: We selected 39 SCI fertile-aged women. At visit 1 we assessed the presence of FSD using the FSFI and all individuals were submitted to a haematic hormonal evaluation on the 3rd day of their menstrual cycle. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH); cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), androstenedione, 17[alpha]-hydroxyprogesterone; total and free testosterone, 17 beta estradiol, inhibin and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), and thyroid hormones (fT3 and fT4) were checked. On the 20th - 21st day following their menstrual cycle we evaluated the progesterone. In patients with amenorrhea we tested all the hormones using one random blood test. After a 3-month period the same investigations were repeated. Results: 23 out of 39 patients (58.9%) continued to manifest at least one sexual dysfunction. These patients reached a median score of 19.52. All but 6 patients (15.3%) consistently showed hormonal values within the normal range. Of the 6 patients with abnormal hormonal alterations 5 showed at least one sexual dysfunction: 2 females had low levels of total testosterone, 1 low level of free testosterone, 1 suffered from hypothyroidism, 1 presented low levels of cortisol, and 1 showed hypoprogesterone. Conclusions: We did not observe a significant correlation between abnormal hormonal status and presence of a specific sexual dysfunction through the FSFI
Key words: Hormone •
female sexual dysfunction •
spinal cord injury
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