---
title: How do hormones affect sexuality and psychology in women? | Niyora
description: Androgens and estrogens play important roles in female sexuality, but their effects are less predictable and less well-understood than in men. Environmental a
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/hormones-behavior-and-sexuality-in-women-1992/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- How do hormones affect sexuality and psychology in women?

Review, 1992

# How do hormones affect sexuality and psychology in women?

Androgens and estrogens play important roles in female sexuality, but their effects are less predictable and less well-understood than in men. Environmental and psychosocial factors appear to play a larger role in women's sexuality than in men's.

 Early or limited evidence

This is a review; no single study population. General discussion of female sexuality and hormonal effects.

## What they did

This is a review of research on the role of hormones in female sexuality and psychological function. The authors examined the effects of various hormones including androgens, estrogens, prolactin, thyroid hormones, and gonadotropins on sexual function and behavior.

## What they found

Androgens and estrogens are clearly important in female sexuality, but the physiologic roles of prolactin, thyroid hormones and gonadotropins are unclear. Neurotransmitter roles can only be guessed at. The effects of deletion and addition of sex steroids in women are far less predictable than in men. Environmental and psychosocial factors are probably more important in the female picture.

## What it means for you

Current research has not fully explained how hormones affect women's sexuality and psychology. Unlike in men, hormonal changes in women have unpredictable effects on sexual function. This review emphasizes that much more research is needed, as female sexuality is understudied compared to male sexuality.

## About the study

Original title Hormones, behavior, and sexuality in women Authors Karpas AE Journal Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia Year 1992 Study design Review What was tested None; this is a review of existing research. Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1506785/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1506785/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Libido and sexual function](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sexual-function/)[Thyroid disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-thyroid/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Cohort study, 2025

Is there a link between premenstrual disorders and autoimmune disease?

Systematic review, 2024

Do SSRI antidepressants help treat PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2008

Does the antidepressant escitalopram taken only during the luteal phase reduce PMDD symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2005

Does fluoxetine improve sexual drive and desire in women with PMDD?

Cohort study, 2004

Do women with PMS have worse menopausal symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2003

Do SSRIs (antidepressants) help PMDD?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗