Department of Gynecology and Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, 13, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
J Sex Med. 2009 Oct;6(10):2707-14. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01402.x. Epub 2009 Jul 28.
A decline in sexual activity has been reported as women age.
To compare, in young adult and middle-aged women, the clitoral volumetric and vascular modifications during the periovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, and to analyze their relationship with circulating hormones, nitric oxide levels, and with questionnaires on sexuality, relationship, and depression.
Fifteen young (18-25 years; Group I), and 16 middle-aged (35-45 years; Group II) eumenorrheic women were submitted, on day 14 of their menstrual cycle, to utero-ovarian and clitoral ultrasonographic analysis, and to color Doppler evaluation of the uterine and dorsal clitoral arteries. On the same day, hormonal parameters and plasma concentrations of nitrites/nitrates were assayed, and the two-factor Italian McCoy female questionnaire and the Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaire were administered.
Utero-ovarian and clitoral ultrasonographic analysis, color Doppler evaluation of the uterine and dorsal clitoral arteries; evaluation of hormonal and nitrites/nitrates plasma concentrations; administration of the two-factor Italian McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire and the Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaire. RESULTS. The plasma levels of estradiol, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and nitrites/nitrates were similar in both groups. Neither the ultrasonographic assessment of the clitoral body volume (0.82 +/- 0.24 mL vs. 0.73 +/- 0.26 mL) nor the Doppler analysis of the dorsal clitoral artery [pulsatility index (PI) = 1.35 +/- 0.31 vs. PI = 1.36 +/- 0.19] evidenced any significant differences in either Group I or Group II. The two-factor Italian McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire gave the same results in Group I and Group II. The relationship between the different parameters evidenced that the NO(2-)/NO(3-) circulating levels are inversely correlated with uterine artery (r = -0.4611; P = 0.008) and dorsal clitoral artery (r = -0.331; P = 0.041) PIs. Furthermore, estradiol resulted inversely correlated with depression (r = -0.332; P = 0.045). The two sections (sexuality and partnership) of Italian McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire were positively correlated (r = 0.849; P < 0.0001) between each other.
In eumenorrheic young adult and middle-aged women, the periovulatory clitoral anatomic and vascular modifications similarly occur.
随着女性年龄的增长，其性行为活跃度有所下降。
比较年轻成年期和中年期女性在月经周期排卵前期的阴蒂体积和血管变化，并分析其与循环激素、一氧化氮水平以及性行为、关系和抑郁问卷调查之间的关系。
15 名年轻（18-25 岁；I 组）和 16 名中年（35-45 岁；II 组）月经正常的女性在月经周期的第 14 天接受子宫卵巢和阴蒂超声分析，并对子宫和背侧阴蒂动脉进行彩色多普勒评估。同日，检测激素参数和血浆硝酸盐/亚硝酸盐浓度，并进行意大利 McCoy 女性性功能问卷的两因素和贝克抑郁量表问卷评估。
子宫卵巢和阴蒂超声分析、子宫和背侧阴蒂动脉彩色多普勒评估；激素和硝酸盐/亚硝酸盐血浆浓度评估；意大利 McCoy 女性性功能问卷的两因素和贝克抑郁量表问卷评估。结果：两组的雌二醇、睾酮、性激素结合球蛋白和硝酸盐/亚硝酸盐血浆水平相似。两组的阴蒂体体积的超声评估（0.82±0.24ml 比 0.73±0.26ml）或背侧阴蒂动脉的多普勒分析[搏动指数（PI）=1.35±0.31 比 PI=1.36±0.19]均无显著差异。意大利 McCoy 女性性功能问卷的两因素和贝克抑郁量表问卷在 I 组和 II 组的结果相同。不同参数之间的关系表明，循环中 NO（2-）/NO（3-）水平与子宫动脉（r=-0.4611；P=0.008）和背侧阴蒂动脉（r=-0.331；P=0.041）的 PI 呈负相关。此外，雌二醇与抑郁呈负相关（r=-0.332；P=0.045）。意大利 McCoy 女性性功能问卷的两个部分（性行为和伴侣关系）彼此之间呈正相关（r=0.849；P<0.0001）。
在月经正常的年轻成年期和中年期女性中，排卵前期的阴蒂解剖和血管变化相似。
