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Impact of body iron store on sexual function: a comprehensive review and pilot cohort study in midlife women

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Both iron deficiency (ID) and female sexual dysfunction (FSD) affect more than 25% of the world population. The aim of this study was to identify a connection between these two conditions based on the existing literature and to investigate this interrelation in a small pilot cross-sectional study.

Methods

A database search for publications referring to ID and FSD was conducted. The resulting common denominators were used to formulate hypotheses regarding the interaction of these diseases. Simultaneously, 45 healthy middle-aged women completed questionnaires about their sexual function and provided a blood sample for the purpose of determining ferritin and haemoglobin levels. The main outcome measures included an analysis of responses to questions on sexuality and partnership and of blood ferritin and haemoglobin levels. The secondary outcomes included an assessment of further influences on libido, such as sex hormones, menopausal status, health, and life satisfaction.

Results

Altered monoaminergic cerebral metabolism, hyperprolactinaemia and hypothyroidism, impaired socioemotional interaction, increased anxiety, and depression in both, ID and FSD, account for the most comprehensive explanations for the postulated association between the two conditions. Despite a feasible assumption, our empirical findings failed to demonstrate any correlation between ID and FSD. We identified a certain impact of menopausal hormonal status on sexual function.

Conclusion

ID has no influence on FSD in the given population, although the literature suggests that FSD may at least be partly due to ID. Further research seems justified given the potential advantages for sexual health, considering that ID is an easily treatable disease.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dina Gafner, study nurse, for her administrative assistance during the study and Unilabs SA, Berne, especially Mrs. Helene Frey and Mrs. Daniela Gerber, for their financial and administrative support in the blood chemistry analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Conny Joanna Hartmann

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Thun, Thun, Switzerland

    Barbara Sutter

  3. Department of General Surgery, Hospital of Muensingen, Münsingen, Switzerland

    Manuela Fehr

  4. Department of Gynaecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Inselspital Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 19, 3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Petra Stute

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  1. Conny Joanna Hartmann
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CJH: project development; data collection, and analysis and management; manuscript writing/editing. BS: project development and data collection, analysis, and management. MF: project development and data collection, analysis, and management. PS: project development and supervision.

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Correspondence to Petra Stute.

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Blood chemistry analysis was financially supported and performed by Unilabs SA, Berne. All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

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The study protocol was approved by the Cantonal Ethics Committee Bern (Ref.-Nr. KEK-BE: 087/13).

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Hartmann, C.J., Sutter, B., Fehr, M. et al. Impact of body iron store on sexual function: a comprehensive review and pilot cohort study in midlife women. Arch Gynecol Obstet 300, 469–480 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05206-9

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