Sexual behaviour, a stress factor affecting ovulation and cycle length.

The hormonal profile and clinical picture of women, mean age 21 years, with aberrant anovulatory cycles, lasting from 35-65 days were presented. Although all subjects had orgasmic experiences by automanipulation, and 4 had sporadic sex with men, the fact of not having regular heterosexual relationship, acts as an emotional stress, with resulting higher PRL and urinary catecholamine level, as compared to an age-matched control group of 14 women, having regular 1-2 weekly coitus. Sexual behaviour affects cycle length and ovulation, having no effect on estradiol level. Menstrual disorders and aberrant long cycles, resulting from absence of or sporadic sexual encounters should not be treated. They are a temporary phenomenon, which disappears after establishment of normal heterosexual life-style.