Sexual function scores are associated with arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women

Background: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) has been suggested to be correlated with the burden of cardiovascular risk factors.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the possible association between functional indices of vascular function and FSD scores in apparently healthy postmenopausal women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 116 postmenopausal women who underwent assessment of endothelial function with measurement of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the branchial artery and arterial stiffness estimation with measurement of the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). We used the Greene Climacteric Scale to evaluate vasomotor symptomatology, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to evaluate FSD and the Beck Depression Inventory to evaluate mood disorder. Low sexual function was defined as an FSFI score <26.55.

Outcomes: These included FSFI and low sexual function scores as well as measures of PWV and FMD.

Results: Sexual function scores were associated with measures of blood pressure (normal vs low sexual function; systolic blood pressure: 120.2 ± 15.0 mm Hg vs 113.4 ± 14.6 mm Hg; analysis of covariance P = .026; diastolic blood pressure: 75.9 ± 10.5 mm Hg vs 70.3 ± 9.9 mm Hg; analysis of covariance P = .012; both adjusted for age, body mass index, current smoking, and PWV). Systolic blood pressure, but not diastolic blood pressure, was associated with FSFI (B = 0.249, P = .041) and PWV (B = 0.392, P < .001). PWV measures were associated with FSFI (B = -0.291, P = .047) and pulse pressure (B = 0.355, P = .017). FMD measures were also associated with FSFI (B = 0.427, P = .033). All models were adjusted for age, body mass index, current smoking, insulin resistance, vasomotor symptomatology, and Beck Depression Inventory.

Clinical implications: Our findings demonstrate that lower scores of sexual function are associated with deteriorated vascular function mainly manifested as arterial stiffening, further contributing to systolic blood pressure changes.

Strengths and limitations: The strength of this study is the carefully selected healthy sample of postmenopausal women, with simultaneous assessment of climacteric symptomatology and mood disorders. The limitations include the small sample size, the cross-sectional design, and the recruitment of consecutive outpatients of a university menopause clinic.

Conclusion: Longitudinal studies and interventions to improve FSD should further assess the clinical relevance of these findings.