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.
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/
Topics
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