Do hormones influence women's sex? Sexual activity over the menstrual cycle.

Introduction: In mammals, the effects of ovarian steroids influence sexual behavior. In humans, there are a few studies that take into account if ovulation occurs.

Aim: The study aims to investigate if a woman's sexuality changes during the week and over the menstrual cycle, and if so, in what way.

Preliminary study on the effect of four-phasic estradiol valerate and dienogest (E2V/DNG) oral contraceptive on the quality of sexual life.

Introduction: A new oral contraceptive containing the natural estrogen estradiol and a 19-nortestosterone derivate dienogest (DNG) in a four-phasic 28-day regimen may be used by women.

Aim: To investigate the quality of sexual life of healthy women on estradiol valerate and DNG (E2V/DNG) oral contraceptive.

Methods: Fifty-seven women (age range 18-48 years) were enrolled.

Ultrastructural and quantitative study of clitoral cavernous tissue from living subjects.

Introduction: There has never been an investigation about the in vivo clitoral structure.

Aim: To study the "in vivo" age-related structural changes of the clitoris in healthy women and in those affected by metabolic disorders.

Methods: Forty-three women subgrouping in (i) five teenagers, aged 14-18; (ii) eight young premenopausal women, aged 23-32; (iii) 10 premenopausal women, aged 38-47; (iv) nine diabetic premenopausal women, aged 27-43; and (v) 11 naturally postmenopausal women aged 51-55.

Conventional vs. extended-cycle oral contraceptives on the quality of sexual life: comparison between two regimens containing 3 mg drospirenone and 20 µg ethinyl estradiol.

Introduction: Women may use new oral contraceptives (OC) having flexible extended-cycle regimens with a reduced hormone-free interval.

Aim: To study the changes of the quality of sexual life in users of the traditional 21/7 or extended-cycle 24/4 OC regimens both containing 3 mg drospirenone and 20 µg ethinyl estradiol.

Methods: One hundred fifteen women (age range 18-37 years) were enrolled.

Quality of sexual life in hyperandrogenic women treated with an oral contraceptive containing chlormadinone acetate.

Introduction: Hyperandrogenism produces change in quality of life of women.

Aim: To prespectively determine the changes of the sexual behaviour of hyperandrogenic women using an oral contraceptive containing 30 microg ethinylestradiol and 2 mg chlormadinone acetate (EE/CMA).

Methods: Seventy-two volunteer women (age range, 18-32 years), with moderate to severe hirsutim and acne were treated with EE/CMA for 9 cycles.

Prospective study evaluating olfactometric and rhinomanometric outcomes in postmenopausal women on 1 mg 17beta-estradiol and 2 mg drospirenone HT.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of drospirenone on the olfactory sensitivity in postmenopausal women treated with hormone therapy (HT).

Design: Forty-seven naturally postmenopausal women participated in the prospective study. The women underwent continuous combined HT containing 1 mg 17beta-estradiol and 2 mg drospirenone (DRSP).

Prospective study on the cytological aspects of the nasal respiratory epithelium in premenopausal women taking 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone oral contraceptive.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the effects of the monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP) on the nasal respiratory epithelium in premenopausal women.

Study Design: Fifty premenopausal women participated in the prospective study. Baseline endovaginal ultrasound examination and blood test to measure serum progesterone to confirm an ovulatory cycle were performed.

Characteristics of nasal epithelial cells in naturally postmenopausal women receiving hormone therapy with 1 mg 17beta-estradiol and 2 mg drospirenone: a prospective study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of drospirenone on nasal respiratory epithelium in postmenopausal women who are treated with hormone therapy (HT).

Design: Thirty-five naturally postmenopausal women participated in the prospective study. Women received continuous-combined HT containing 1 mg 17beta-estradiol and 2 mg drospirenone.

Changes in visual evoked potentials during the menstrual cycle in young women.

Purpose: Since, during the menstrual cycle, changes in neuronal activity and in auditory, olfactory, and taste thresholds were found, visual evoked potentials were investigated.

Materials & Methods: In 50 healthy women the latency and the amplitude of P100 wave of pattern reversal visual evoked potentials were measured during the different menstrual phases (follicular, periovular, and luteal), as determined by sonography and serum progesterone level.

Results: Compared with the follicular phase, during the luteal phase significant reduction in latency (101.

Cytological aspects of the nasal respiratory epithelium in reproductive-age women taking oral contraceptives.

Objective: To determine the effects of monophasic oral contraceptives on the nasal respiratory epithelium in premenopausal women.

Design: Prospective open clinical trial.

Setting: Outpatient Family Planning Centre.

Sildenafil improves sexual functioning in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes who are affected by sexual arousal disorder: a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Objective: To verify whether sildenafil is effective in type 1 premenopausal women affected by sexual arousal disorder (SAD).

Design: Double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: Gynecological diabetic outpatient clinic and sexual clinic.

Prospective study on sexual behavior of women using 30 microg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone oral contraceptive.

The aim of the study was to determine the changes, if any, on the sexual behavior of women using an oral contraceptive containing 30 microg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP). Eighty healthy volunteer women (age range, 19-31 years), with regular menstrual cycle length (mean 27.6+/-3.

Olfactometric and rhinomanometric outcomes in post-menopausal women treated with hormone therapy: a prospective study.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on olfactory sensitivity in post-menopausal women.

Methods: Forty-six naturally post-menopausal women underwent rhinomanometric and olfactometric measurements to compare nasal airflow resistance values and olfactometric thresholds during the eighth month of HT treatment with baseline levels prior to starting HT. Eighteen women used an oral HT regimen, and twenty-eight women used transdermal patch HT.

Placebo-controlled study on efficacy and safety of daily apomorphine SL intake in premenopausal women affected by hypoactive sexual desire disorder and sexual arousal disorder.

Objectives: To verify whether apomorphine SL is effective in premenopausal women affected by arousal disorder with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

Methods: Sixty-two volunteer women, aged 26 to 45 years, affected by arousal disorders and hypoactive sexual desire disorder participated in the study, which consisted of two parts. The first was 4 weeks of a taken-as-needed, open-label, dose-escalation regimen starting at 2 or 3 mg of apomorphine SL.

Sexual behavior of women taking low-dose oral contraceptive containing 15 microg ethinylestradiol/60 microg gestodene.

The objective of this prospective study was to assess the effects of a low-dose oral contraceptive (OC) containing 15 microg ethinylestradiol and 60 microg gestodene on sexuality. Forty-eight healthy volunteers (age range, 18-35 years), having regular menstrual cycles with ovulation, participated in the study. Sexual behavior was assessed using the self-administered Personal Experience Questionnaire, at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 9 months of pill use.

Efficacy and safety of daily intake of apomorphine SL in men affected by erectile dysfunction and mild hyperprolactinemia: a prospective, open-label, pilot study.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of the "daily" use of apomorphine SL compared with the "on demand" administration of the drug in patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (ED) and mild hyperprolactinemia who were nonresponders to apomorphine administered "on demand."

Methods: In this open-label prospective study, 34 patients with mild-to-moderate ED and mild hyperprolactinemia were screened. The subjects answered the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire and underwent follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, free testosterone, and prolactin plasma testing, and Doppler sonography at the 2-week screening period to define the ED severity and etiology, at the end of a 4-week "as required" dose-escalation regimen of 2 mg/3 mg apomorphine SL, and at the end of a 4-week period of daily administration of the drug to assess the efficacy of each treatment modality.

The function of sildenafil on female sexual pathways: a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled study.

Objectives: To determine the changes, if any, on female sexual pathways using sildenafil (primary outcome), and to verify the safety of this drug (second outcome).

Study Design: Following previous research on symptomatic women, we wanted to study the effects of sildenafil on asymptomatic women. We would like to make it clear from the outset that this study is part of an ongoing line of research and this drug, and others of its type, should be used under strict medical supervision only on symptomatic patients.

Auditory brain stem response throughout the menstrual cycle.

A prospective study was performed to evaluate the changes in the auditory brain stem response (ABR) that occur in healthy premenopausal women throughout the menstrual cycle. Ninety-four women with ovulatory menstrual cycles underwent ABR testing by auditory evoked potentials for wave I, III, and V latencies and for interpeak I-III, I-V, and III-V intervals during the follicular, periovular, and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The wave latencies and the interpeak intervals showed shorter values during the periovular phase than during the luteal phase (p < .

Effects of patch or gel estrogen therapies on auditory brainstem response in surgically postmenopausal women: a prospective, randomized study.

Objective: To study the effects of gonadal steroids on the nongenital audiological target in surgically postmenopausal women treated with patch or gel transdermal estrogen therapy (ET).

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: Research Group for Sexology, University of Catania, Italy.

Cytologic aspects of the nasal respiratory epithelium in postmenopausal women treated with hormone therapy.

Objective: To investigate the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on nasal respiratory epithelium in postmenopausal women.

Design: Prospective open clinical trial.

Setting: Outpatient menopausal clinic.