Sexual development and life of women with gonadal dysgenesis

Abstract

The sexual development and behavior of 37 women suffering from the gonadal dysgenesis syndrome were investigated. It was found that their sexual development was significantly retarded compared with a control group of 50 fertile patients of the same age. This retardation was greater in a subgroup of 19 women with the Turner syndrome than in a subgroup of 18 women with pure gonadal dysgenesis. The levels of gonadotrophins LH and FSH, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone in blood were similar in these two subgroups. In two-thirds of the gonadal dysgenesis syndrome patients, the estradiol level was mostly at the low end of normal. The assessment of their sexual life using the Sexual Activity of Women (SAW) and Sexual Function of Women (SFW) questionnaires indicated a lower sexual desire, a reduced orgastic capacity, and a weaker sexual activity in the pathological group. However, 24 patients living in a permanent and stable partner relationship at the time of the examination, did not significantly differ from the control group in their responses to the SFW questionnaire. The patients with gonadal dysgenesis syndrome were surprisingly well adapted to their shortcomings. The occurrence and intensity of most neurotic symptoms assessed by the N5 Questionnaire were scored lower by the patients with gonadal dysgenesis syndrome than by the control group.

Sexual Functioning and Partner Relationships in Women with Turner Syndrome: Some Empirical Data and Theoretical Considerations Regarding Sexual Desire

“…They have been reported to be less likely to be married or to be living in a steady relationship (Aran et al, 1992;Downey, Ehrhardt, Gruen, Bell, & Morishima, 1989;Holl et al, 1994;Nielsen, Nyborg, & Dahl, 1977;Tang, 1989), and those who do marry or engage in a stable relationship are reported to do so later than average (Aran et al, 1992;Nielsen et al, 1977;Pavlidis, McCauley, & Sybert, 1995). They are also reported to be less likely to be sexually active, and to have their sexual debut later (Downey et al, 1989;Nielsen et al, 1977;Pavlidis et al, 1995;Raboch, Kobilková, Horejší, Stárka, & Raboch, 1987).…”

“…However, they reported wanting sexual activity one to two times a week, only slightly less than unaffected women. Raboch et al (1987) found that a heterogeneous group of women with gonadal dysgenesis, of whom half were diagnosed with TS, had an impaired sex life, characterized by a lower self-evaluated sexual desire and arousability, reduced orgasm capacity, and a lower level of sexual activity, compared with a group of healthy women of the same age. An interesting finding was that sexual functioning in the subgroup of women who had a stable partner relationship did not differ significantly from that of the comparison group of healthy women (Raboch et al, 1987).…”

Aspectos psicossociais da síndrome de Turner

“…E FUNÇÃO SEXUAL Dificuldades de relacionamento amoroso são freqüen-temente relatadas por mulheres com ST (37); em comparação com a população como um todo, relatam ter suas primeiras experiências sexuais com mais idade, são sexualmente menos ativas e casam-se menos (23,30,33,38,44,46,48,49).…”

Turner syndrome: the patients' view

“…Em comparação com a população como um todo, mulheres com ST relatam ter suas primeiras experiências sexuais com mais idade, são sexualmente menos ativas e casam-se menos 6,18,19,[22][23][24][25][26][27] .…”