No link between low hormone levels and sexual function in women

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Low levels of hormones do not account of loss of libido in women, according to a new study.
Many different factors contribute to loss of sexual desire and arousal in women. One theory is that low levels of testosterone - the male sex hormone - in women might contribute to loss of libido. A team at Monash Medical School, Australia, accordingly carried out a study to see if there is a link between low testosterone and low self-reported sexual function.

The study included 1,423 women aged 18 to 75 years. No link between sexual function and low testosterone was found. However, low levels of a related hormone DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) were linked to low sexual desire, responsiveness and arousal in women aged 44 and under and to low responsiveness in older women. However, low DHEAS can't be used as a diagnostic marker for sexual dysfunction - for most women with low levels do not actually experience lower libido. Clearly, the influence of hormones on female sexual desire is complex and worthy of further investigation.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 6th July 2005 Volume 294 pages 91-96

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