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Does oral contraceptive-induced reduction in free testosterone adversely affect the sexuality or mood of women?

Does oral contraceptive-induced reduction in free testosterone adversely affect the sexuality or mood of women?
Does oral contraceptive-induced reduction in free testosterone adversely affect the sexuality or mood of women?
The aim of this study was to examine whether changes in plasma androgen levels (total testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), and dehydro-epiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S)) induced by oral contraceptive (OC) use were related to changes in sexual interest or response or in mood. Sixty-one women provided blood samples and were assessed, using interviews and standardized questionnaires, prior to starting, and after 3 months on OCs (Ortho-Tricyclen®, Ortho-Tricyclen-Lo®, or Ortho-Cyclen®, all containing the same progestagen, norgestimate). Significant decreases in T, FT, and DHEA-S were found after 3 months, although the extent of reduction was variable across women. There was some support for a relationship between the degree of reduction in total T and FT and the frequency of sexual thoughts after 3 months on OCs. However, some women had no loss of sexual interest in spite of substantial reduction in FT, and there was overall no evidence that reduction in FT affected enjoyment of sexual activity with a partner. The findings are consistent with the idea that some women may be more sensitive to changes in T than others. No relationship was found between negative mood, as assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory, and changes in T, FT, or DHEA-S.

0306-4530
246-255
Graham, Cynthia A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8
Bancroft, John
2b95cc70-bb5a-482b-b6a1-e8535fccd837
Doll, Helen A.
374457a2-e4e8-4527-b347-015f9433290a
Greco, Theresa
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Tanner, Amanda
0ce89bd5-8fcd-4ff9-a66f-adda5bf406b7
Graham, Cynthia A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8
Bancroft, John
2b95cc70-bb5a-482b-b6a1-e8535fccd837
Doll, Helen A.
374457a2-e4e8-4527-b347-015f9433290a
Greco, Theresa
100e6a30-06b2-4589-9e45-949341977112
Tanner, Amanda
0ce89bd5-8fcd-4ff9-a66f-adda5bf406b7

Graham, Cynthia A., Bancroft, John, Doll, Helen A., Greco, Theresa and Tanner, Amanda (2007) Does oral contraceptive-induced reduction in free testosterone adversely affect the sexuality or mood of women? Psychoneuroendocrinology, 32 (3), 246-255. (doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2006.12.011).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine whether changes in plasma androgen levels (total testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), and dehydro-epiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S)) induced by oral contraceptive (OC) use were related to changes in sexual interest or response or in mood. Sixty-one women provided blood samples and were assessed, using interviews and standardized questionnaires, prior to starting, and after 3 months on OCs (Ortho-Tricyclen®, Ortho-Tricyclen-Lo®, or Ortho-Cyclen®, all containing the same progestagen, norgestimate). Significant decreases in T, FT, and DHEA-S were found after 3 months, although the extent of reduction was variable across women. There was some support for a relationship between the degree of reduction in total T and FT and the frequency of sexual thoughts after 3 months on OCs. However, some women had no loss of sexual interest in spite of substantial reduction in FT, and there was overall no evidence that reduction in FT affected enjoyment of sexual activity with a partner. The findings are consistent with the idea that some women may be more sensitive to changes in T than others. No relationship was found between negative mood, as assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory, and changes in T, FT, or DHEA-S.

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Grahametal_15Dec2006.doc - Accepted Manuscript
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Published date: April 2007
Organisations: Psychology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 206797
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/206797
ISSN: 0306-4530
PURE UUID: 71a7f2b5-2874-4e1b-8884-25ab8c739eda
ORCID for Cynthia A. Graham: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7884-599X

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Date deposited: 11 Jan 2012 15:04
Last modified: 21 Mar 2024 02:47

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Contributors

Author: John Bancroft
Author: Helen A. Doll
Author: Theresa Greco
Author: Amanda Tanner

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