Bad sex is in the hormones

A group of Italian investigators of the University of Ancona and l’Aquila have reviewed the literature concerned with the relationship between hormone alterations and sexual dysfunctions in the May issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

They have found that many cases of bad sex is in the hormones. The good news is that there is something to do about it.

Not only the most frequent causes of endocrine sexual dysfunction, such as hypogonadism and hyperprolactinemia, but almost all extragonadal endocrinopathies (hyper- and hypothyroidism, hyper- and hypocortisolism, steroidal secreting tumors, etc.) may have a greater or lesser effect on sexual function.

The Authors analyzed scientific literature on the correlations between hormones and sexual behavior, analyzing the most important issue from a practical point of view. The aim of this review article was thus to summarize the sexual symptoms that may be observed with endocrine diseases. Hormones directly or indirectly regulate all human sexual functions (desire, erection/lubrication, ejaculation, orgasm). Some sexual symptoms may occur as a psychosomatic consequence of hormonal impairment. However, in other cases, endocrine failure may be generated by the psychosomatic involvement. The endocrinologist, as an expert in body chemistry, is ideally positioned to identify and evaluate the full range of medical, physical, and psychiatric problems disrupting sexual function.