Browsing by Subject "Sexual function"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item The effects of acute and chronic stress on sexual arousal in women(2010-05) Hamilton, Lisa Dawn, 1979-; Meston, Cindy M.; Delville, Yvon; Jones, Theresa A.; Gore, Andrea C.; Dormire, Sharon L.In most adult animals, stress is generally thought to be detrimental to reproductive (sexual) function. However, in humans, there is a limited body of literature that indicates some stress can potentially be beneficial for sexual function. One theory is that there is an inverted U relationship between stress and sexual function with low and high levels of stress (or anxiety) causing an impairment of sexual response, while a moderate level of stress facilitates sexual arousal. This aim of this dissertation is to identify the mechanisms through which both acute and chronic stress may facilitate or impair sexual arousal in women. In particular, I examined the role of adrenal hormones, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and psychological factors. To test these mechanisms, I measured cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), heart rate, distraction, and misattribution of arousal during stressful and sexual laboratory situations. Two of the studies examined the effects of acute stress, and the final study focused on chronic stress. Results indicated that acute stress is beneficial for genital arousal in women, and that the sympathetic branch of the ANS is the key mechanism involved in that relationship. High levels of chronic stress were found to significantly impair genital arousal compared to average levels of chronic stress. Increased levels of cortisol and distractions contributed to this effect. DHEAS did not appear to play a role in the relationship between stress and sexual arousal, and there was no evidence for misattribution of arousal. Neither acute nor chronic stress affected women’s subjective (psychological) arousal. Acute and chronic stressors affect sexual arousal in different ways and through separate mechanisms. The findings from these studies can inform treatment approaches for women with sexual arousal difficulties.Item Efficacy of an exercise intervention for sexual side effects of antidepressant medications in women(2013-08) Lorenz, Tierney Kyle Ahrold; Meston, Cindy M.Antidepressants are associated with sexual side effects (Clayton, Keller, & McGarvey, 2006). Sexual side effects are associated with non-compliance or discontinuance of antidepressants (Werneke, Northey, & Bhugra, 2006). Despite this, there are few empirically supported treatments for antidepressant side effects. However, in laboratory studies, exercise immediately before sexual stimuli improved sexual arousal of women taking antidepressants (Lorenz & Meston, 2012). I evaluated if exercise improves sexual functioning in women experiencing antidepressant-induced sexual side effects. Fifty-two women reporting antidepressant sexual side effects were followed for 3 weeks of sexual activity only. They were randomized to complete either three weeks of exercise immediately before sexual activity (3x/week) or 3 weeks of exercise separate from sexual activity (3x/week). At the end of the first exercise arm, participants crossed to the other. I measured sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, depression and physical health. Completers showed modest improvements in sexual functioning and satisfaction. For women taking selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, exercising immediately before sexual activity was superior to exercise in general. As well as known effects in improved physical and psychological health, exercise may help improve sexual health and pleasure in women taking antidepressants. These findings have important implications for public health, as exercise is accessible, cheap, and does not add to burden of care.Item When are sexual difficulties distressing to women? The selective protective value of intimate relationships(2011-08) Stephenson, Kyle Richard; Meston, Cindy M.; Carlson, CarynRecent studies have shown that sexual functioning and sexually related personal distress are weakly related in women, with only a minority of sexual difficulties resulting in significant levels of distress. However, there has been little systematic research to date on which factors moderate the relationship between sexual functioning and sexual distress. Our aim was to assess the degree to which relational intimacy and attachment anxiety moderate the association between sexual functioning and sexual distress in college-age women. Two hundred women (mean age = 20.25) completed surveys assessing sexual functioning, relational intimacy, attachment anxiety, and sexual distress. Relational intimacy and attachment anxiety moderated the association between multiple aspects of sexual functioning and sexual distress. For lubrication and sexual pain, functioning was more strongly associated with distress in low-intimacy vs. high-intimacy relationships, but only for women with high levels of attachment anxiety. Results regarding desire were mixed and neither intimacy nor attachment anxiety interacted with subjective arousal or orgasm in predicting distress. We conclude that both relational intimacy and attachment anxiety are important moderators of the association between sexual functioning and subjective sexual distress in women. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.