Sexual behaviour in Britain and France.
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France↗
Biomedical subjects
J Bancroft
Publications and source records attributed to J Bancroft.
Testosterone and erectile function, nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity, and erectile response to visual erotic stimuli in hypogonadal and eugonadal men.
Further evidence that nocturnal erections are androgen-dependent and erectile responses to visual erotic stimuli are androgen-independent is presented from six men with secondary hypogonadism and six eugonadal controls. Erections during sleep were substantially less in the hypogonadal men, in terms of both tumescence and rigidity. In response to visual erotic stimuli, the percentage increase in circumference over baseline and the increase in rigidity were similar for the two groups.
Adult↗
The effects of exogenous testosterone on sexuality and mood of normal men.
The effects of supraphysiological levels of testosterone, used for male contraception, on sexual behavior and mood were studied in a single-blind, placebo-controlled manner in a group of 31 normal men. After 4 weeks of baseline observations, the men were randomized into two groups: one group received 200 mg testosterone enanthate (TE) weekly by im injection for 8 weeks (Testosterone Only group), the other received placebo injections once weekly for the first 4 weeks followed by TE 200 mg weekly for the following 4 weeks (Placebo/Testosterone group). The testosterone administration increased trough plasma testosterone levels by 80%, compatible with peak testosterone levels 400-500% above baseline. Various aspects of sexuality were assessed using sexuality experience scales (SES) questionnaires at the end of each 4-week period while sexual activity and mood states were recorded by daily dairies and self-rating scales. In both groups there was a significant increase in scores in the Psychosexual Stimulation Scale of the SES (i.e. SES 2) following testosterone administration, but not with placebo. There were no changes in SES 3, which measures aspects of sexual interaction with the partner. In both groups there were no changes in frequency of sexual intercourse, masturbation, or penile erection on waking nor in any of the moods reported. The Placebo/Testosterone group showed an increase in self-reported interest in sex during testosterone treatment but not with placebo. The SES 2 results suggest that sexual awareness and arousability can be increased by supraphysiological levels of testosterone. However, these changes are not reflected in modifications of overt sexual behavior, which in eugonadal men may be more determined by sexual relationship factors. This contrasts with hypogonadal men, in whom testosterone replacement clearly stimulates sexual behavior. There was no evidence to suggest an alteration in any of the mood states studied, in particular those associated with increased aggression. We conclude that supraphysiological levels of testosterone maintained for up to 2 months can promote some aspects of sexual arousability without stimulating sexual activity in eugonadal men within stable heterosexual relationships. Raising testosterone does not increase self-reported ratings of aggressive feelings.
Adult↗
Oral contraceptives, androgens, and the sexuality of young women: I. A comparison of sexual experience, sexual attitudes, and gender role in oral contraceptive users and nonusers.
Female undergraduates (108) volunteered for a study of hormones and sexuality, 55 of whom were oral contraceptive (OC) users. In this paper, OC users and nonusers are compared on measures of sexual attitudes and behavior, use of erotic fantasy, and gender role. In the second paper, the effects of OC on androgen levels and the relationship between androgens and behavioral measures within each group are reported. OC users were more likely to have a current sexual partner and less likely to be virgins. The two groups did not differ in frequency of masturbation or use of erotic fantasies. OC users reported less restrictive sexual morality and more interest in erotic images. These differences persisted when women without current partners were excluded. Among those in active sexual relationships, OC users reported more frequent sexual intercourse, higher psychosexual motivation and enjoyment, and were more positive in their evaluation of their partners than OC nonusers.
Adult↗
Oral contraceptives, androgens, and the sexuality of young women: II. The role of androgens.
The relationships between plasma free testosterone (FT) and measures of sexual attitude, sexual behavior, and gender role behavior were assessed in 55 oral contraceptive-using and 53 nonusing female undergraduates. Plasma FT and other measures of androgenicity were substantially lower in the oral contraceptive (OC) group. Correlations between FT and certain behavioral and attitudinal measures were found in the OC users but not the nonusers. In the OC users, FT was positively associated with frequency of sexual intercourse but not with frequency of masturbation. It was negatively associated with restrictive sexual morality. Correlations between FT and measures of gender role behavior were negligible, and FT was unrelated to proceptivity, homosexual interest, or the use of sexual fantasy. The occurrence of some predicted correlations among pill-using women but not the nonusers requires explanation, particularly in view of the substantially lower levels of FT in the pill-using group. It is suggested that androgen-behavior relationships in women are easily obscured by psychosocial influences and in this sample of young women such influences may have been more powerful among those not using OCs. Such psychosocial influences are likely to differ at different stages of women's life cycles. The importance of controlling for such influences in any study of hormone-sexual behavior relationships in women is emphasized, and the need for prospective studies of women before and after starting on steroidal contraception is recognized.
Adult↗
The relationship between perimenstrual depressive mood and depressive illness.
In a study of 144 women, mainly self-designated PMS sufferers, the premenstrual depression experienced was, apart from its shorter duration, quantitatively and qualitatively similar to major depressive disorder for a substantial proportion of subjects. The associations with previous history of depression were complex: the severity of premenstrual depression was related to previous history of postnatal depression, whereas its duration (i.e., whether it persisted through longer) was related to a history of treatment with antidepressants. Two independent dimensions are proposed. (i) A menstrual cycle-related factor which in vulnerable women can results in severe and disabling premenstrual dysphoria, and which may be aetiologically related to a subgroup of postnatal depression. (ii) In a minority of women a more general propensity for depressive illness evidence as a tendency for any premenstrual depression to be prolonged.
Adult↗
Blunting of neuroendocrine responses to infusion of L-tryptophan in women with perimenstrual mood change.
The neuroendocrine response to L-tryptophan infusion was measured at two stages of the menstrual cycle, premenstrually and postmenstrually, in 13 women with and 13 women without premenstrual depression (the MC and NMC groups respectively). Previous studies have shown that in non-depressed women, this challenge test results in an increase in circulating prolactin and growth hormone. In depressed women both responses are blunted. In this study the growth hormone and cortisol responses were smaller in the MC group than the NMC group on both occasions. The prolactin response was blunted premenstrually compared with postmenstrually in both groups. These findings suggest that women who experience premenstrual depression may have neuroendocrine abnormalities throughout the cycle. The neurotransmitter abnormalities reflected in these altered endocrine responses appear to interact with neuroendocrine changes that normally occur premenstrually resulting in a vulnerability to depression at that phase of the cycle.
Adolescent↗
Erectile response to visual erotic stimuli before and after intracavernosal papaverine, and its relationship to nocturnal penile tumescence and psychometric assessment.
Three methods of assessing erectile capacity--nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), response to visual erotic stimuli (VES) and to intracavernosal papaverine (ICI)--have been assessed in 42 men presenting with erectile dysfunction. There was some overlap but also important differences between the 3 measures. Subjects were divided into "high" and "low" NPT groups. The "high" group produced greater erectile responses to both VES and ICI. The combination of VES and ICI was the best discriminator of the two NPT groups, and may be of diagnostic value, particularly in younger men, reducing the need for repeated injections and higher doses of papaverine. In the "low" NPT group, presumed predominantly organic, the ICI response correlated better than the VES response with NPT. In the "high" NPT group, the opposite applied, suggesting that in "psychogenic" cases, response to ICI may be modified by psychological mechanisms which could be of aetiological importance and which deserve further study. These three methods should be regarded as measuring different aspects of erectile function and not as alternative diagnostic procedures. More research is required before their respective diagnostic values are established.
Adult↗
Is sex necessarily a risk factor to depression?
"To isolate and quantify possible determinants of any increased prevalence of depressive disorders in women we studied a select group of men and women, initially similar in terms of a number of putative social determinants of depression, and reviewed the sample five years later when social role diversity was anticipated. We used the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) to generate DSM-III and RDC diagnoses to estimate lifetime depressive disorders, and established (via corroborative reports) the likely accuracy of those data. Despite lifetime depression being a relatively common experience, no significant sex differences in depressive episodes were demonstrated, suggesting the possible irrelevance of biological factors in determining any sex difference. As there was not major social role divergence over the five year study, we interpret the lack of a sex difference as a consequence, and suggest that findings support the view that social factors are of key relevance in determining any female preponderance in depression described in general population studies."
Cross-Sectional Studies↗
Testosterone and sexual behavior in oral contraceptive users and nonusers: a prospective study.
The relationship between plasma testosterone (T) secretion and patterns of sexual behavior was examined in 18 women using oral contraceptives (OCs) and 13 nonusers matched for partner availability. Retrospective assessments of perimenstrual symptoms, sexual attitudes, and sexual experience were obtained and women completed daily ratings of the frequency of sexual activities and the level of well-being for 1 month. Plasma levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), progesterone, Total T, Free T, and non-SHBG bound T were determined by radioimmunoassay at four phases of the pill or menstrual cycle. Overall, women not using OCs had higher plasma levels of Total, Free, and non-SHBG bound T and lower plasma levels of SHBG than those of OC users. Further, only nonusers had perimenstrual decreases in plasma levels of Total and Free T. The two groups were comparable on most retrospective measures. However, OC users reported more satisfaction with their sexual partners than did nonusers and prospective monitoring revealed that they engaged in sexual interactions more frequently than did nonusers across the cycle. In contrast, both groups reported a similar frequency of autosexual activities across the cycle. There were no correlations between average levels of T and levels of sexual desire, sexual interactions, or autosexuality. Moreover, only nonusers reported a decrease in levels of sexual desire during the perimenstrual period that was associated with the changes in Free T over the menstrual cycle.
Adolescent↗
The effects of testosterone administration and visual erotic stimuli on nocturnal penile tumescence in normal men.
Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), as circumference change and rigidity, and REM sleep were measured in eight normal eugonadal men in two controlled experiments. In the first, exposure to erotic film prior to sleep had no effect on frequency of REM or on NPT. In the second placebo controlled experiment 150 mg im testosterone enanthate administration was associated with enhanced rigidity of NPT but with no effect on frequency or circumference change of NPT and no effect on frequency of REM.
Adult↗
The endocrine effects of visual erotic stimuli in normal men.
Endocrine responses to erotic stimulation in the laboratory were assessed in eight normal subjects. Each subject was tested on two occasions. On one occasion only neutral stimuli were involved. After 15 min baseline, 30 min of films were shown. For the erotic condition on the other occasion, two 10-min erotic films were interspersed with 10 min of neutral film. Fifteen-minute blood samples were taken from the start of each test and continued for 5 hr after the films. Plasma was assayed for testosterone, LH, prolactin, cortisol, ACTH and beta-endorphin. Urine was collected for 4 hr before and 4 hr after the films; this was assayed for adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. Sexual arousal occurred in response to the erotic films in all subjects, as shown by erectile and subjective responses. There were no significant changes in hormone or catecholamine levels following either the erotic or the neutral stimuli, except for a rise in cortisol during the neutral but not the erotic film. These results indicate that in the laboratory, substantial sexual response can occur without accompanying endocrine or biochemical changes.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
Factors related to self-reporting of the pre-menstrual syndrome.
Menstrual health questionnaires were completed by a self-selected sample of the readership of a woman's magazine (n = 5457). Sixty-one per cent of subjects described themselves as suffering from pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and this was largely corroborated by ratings of symptoms pre-menstrually, menstrually and post-menstrually for the most recent cycle. Mood symptoms were more strongly implicated than physical ones. Self-report of PMS was found to be modestly associated with aspects of parity and oral contraceptive use, but strongly and positively related to the duration of 'natural' menstrual cycles (i.e. uninterrupted by pregnancy or steroidal contraception) and to psychosocial stress. There were interactions among psychosocial factors and between psychosocial load and duration of natural cycles.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
The effects of oral contraceptives on well-being and sexuality.
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Affect↗
Sulfasalazine hypersensitivity with hepatotoxicity, thrombocytopenia, and erythroid hypoplasia.
Sulfasalazine, a commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, can cause an allergic reaction with hepatotoxicity, lymphadenopathy, and rash. In addition, many hematologic complications have been observed with sulfasalazine, including aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and erythroid hypoplasia. However, thrombocytopenia in association with sulfasalazine hypersensitivity has not been previously reported. We report a child who developed severe thrombocytopenia and anemia during a hypersensitivity reaction to sulfasalazine.
Anemia↗
Mood, sexuality, oral contraceptives and the menstrual cycle.
4112 women completed a retrospective questionnaire indicating when during their last menstrual cycle they felt their well-being and sexual interest to be at their best and worst. The commonest pattern was for well-being to be lowest during the premenstrual and highest during the postmenstrual week. Sexual interest was strongly associated with well-being, suggesting that variations of well-being have a powerful effect on sexuality in the majority of women. Oral contraceptive users, though broadly similar in their reported pattern, were less likely to show peaks and troughs of well-being and highs and lows of sexual interest. This was most evident in the subgroup of monophasic pill users who showed the least tendency to variations in both well-being and sexual interest, and a greater tendency to show either peaks or troughs of well-being during menstruation. Triphasic pill users were intermediate between monophasic and non-pill users.
Adult↗
The relationship between breast feeding persistence, sexuality and mood in postpartum women.
91 women were assessed early in pregnancy and again 3 and 6 months postpartum. Women who persisted in breastfeeding were less neurotic on the EPI but did not differ from artificial feeders in psychiatric history or sexuality before pregnancy. Breast feeders showed greater impairment of sexuality and slightly more depression at 3 months postpartum. These differences had largely disappeared at 6 months. Possible reasons for these negative effects of breast feeding are discussed and are likely to be multifactorial.
Adult↗