Vitamin D falls short of improving sexual function in PCOS

Vitamin D supplementation does not appear to affect sexual dysfunction, while hormonal contraception (HC) appears to improve sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), suggests a recent study.

This pilot study enrolled women with PCOS who were not desiring fertility; had sexual dysfunction, as assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI); and had no severe depression, as assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II).

Participants received the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D (600 IU daily) plus HC (cyclic ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone) or no HC for 6 months. The authors compared the two groups using chi-square test and t-tests. They also analysed associations between FSFI with demographics, BDI-II, androgen levels, and total and bio-25[OH]D using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Forty-two women without severe depression completed the FSFI, with results showing 28 (66.7 percent) participants having sexual dysfunction. Women with versus without sexual dysfunction had significantly lower scores in all FSFI domains including arousal, orgasm, pain, and lubrication, with no associations seen regarding demographics, total and free testosterone, or total and bio-25[OH]D.

Vitamin D replacement was initiated in women with HC (n=18) or no HC (n=10). For those completing the study, FSFI improved (score >26.55) in 61 percent (11/18) irrespective of treatment arm. A time-treatment effect demonstrated a marked change in the orgasm domain, which indicated that HC had more of an impact than vitamin D replacement.

“Improvement in sexual function as a dichotomous variable was not associated with age, body mass index, other demographics, total and free testosterone, total and bio-25[OH]D, or HC use,” according to the authors.