Dataset Information

Are Sexual Desire and Sociosexual Orientation Related to Men's Salivary Steroid Hormones?

ABSTRACT: Objective:Although it is widely assumed that men's sexual desire and interest in casual sex (i.e., sociosexual orientation) are linked to steroid hormone levels, evidence for such associations is mixed. Methods:We tested for both longitudinal and cross-sectional relationships between salivary testosterone, cortisol, reported sexual desire and sociosexuality in a sample of 61 young adult men, each of whom was tested weekly on up to five occasions. Results:Longitudinal analyses showed no clear relationships between steroid hormones and self-reported sexual desire or sociosexual orientation. Cross-sectional analyses showed no significant associations between average hormone levels and self-reported sexual desire. However, some aspects of sociosexuality, most notably desire for casual sex, were related to men's average hormone levels. Men with higher average testosterone reported greater desire for casual sex, but only if they also had relatively low average cortisol levels. Conclusions:Our results support a Dual Hormone account of men's sociosexuality, in which the combined effects of testosterone and cortisol predict the extent of men's interest in casual sex. However, we did not detect compelling evidence for an association of within-subject hormone shifts and sexual desire or sociosexual orientation.

SUBMITTER: Stern J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7553893 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Are Sexual Desire and Sociosexual Orientation Related to Men's Salivary Steroid Hormones?

Stern Julia J Karastoyanova Konstantina K Kandrik Michal M Torrance Jaimie J Hahn Amanda C AC Holzleitner Iris I DeBruine Lisa M LM Jones Benedict C BC

Adaptive human behavior and physiology 20200824 4

<h4>Objective</h4>Although it is widely assumed that men's sexual desire and interest in casual sex (i.e., sociosexual orientation) are linked to steroid hormone levels, evidence for such associations is mixed.<h4>Methods</h4>We tested for both longitudinal and cross-sectional relationships between salivary testosterone, cortisol, reported sexual desire and sociosexuality in a sample of 61 young adult men, each of whom was tested weekly on up to five occasions.<h4>Results</h4>Longitudinal analys ...[more]

PMID: 33088674

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Project description:IntroductionThe Dual control model proposes that both excitatory and inhibitory processes are responsible for the human sexual response.AimTo validate the French-Canadian translation of the Sexual Inhibition and Excitation Scales-Short Form (SIS/SES-SF) by exploring its factor structure and by investigating its capacity to retrospectively predict sexual functioning and behaviors, namely, sociosexual orientation and sexual compulsivity.MethodsA French-Canadian translation of the SIS/SES-SF was created using forward-backward translation. A community sample of 362 men and 420 women completed an online survey. The factor structure and the measurement invariance between men and women was explored using Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling. Predictive power of the scales was tested using Multiple Linear Regression models using a corrected threshold (P< .008).Main outcome measuresSexual functioning was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function and the Female Sexual Function Index while sexual compulsion and sociosexual orientation were measured using the Sexual Compulsion Scale and the Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory, respectively.ResultsThe original three-factor solution of the SIS/SES-SF was replicated. All three scales showed acceptable internal consistency and good temporal stability. Yet, results only supported configural measurement invariance between men and women, suggesting that their scores cannot be directly compared. Overall, for both men and women, higher sexual excitation (SES) was significantly predictive of better sexual functioning, while higher sexual inhibition due to threat of performance failure (SIS1) was a significant predictor of lower sexual functioning. Both sexual compulsivity and sociosexual orientation were significantly predicted by higher SES and lower sexual inhibition due to threat of performance consequences (SIS2).ConclusionThese results support the cross-cultural transferability of the SIS/SIS-SF and the Dual control model to French-Canadian men and women, higlighting the utility for clinicians to evaluate both excitatory and inhibitory factors associated with sexual dysfunction and sexual behaviors. Nolet K, Guay JP, Bergeron S. Validation of the French-Canadian Version of the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form (SIS/SES-SF): Associations With Sexual Functioning, Sociosexual Orientation, and Sexual Compulsivity. Sex Med 2021;9:100374.

Project description:IntroductionCounts of satisfying sexual events (SSEs) per month have been criticized as an end point in treatment trials of women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) but grounding improvement in sexual desire by assessing changes in sexual behavior remains of some importance.MethodsWe conducted a literature review to find validated measurements that are specific sexual behavioral correlates of low sexual desire. We compared expert-proposed criteria for dysfunctional desire, expert-developed sets of scale items, and self-rated scales developed before issuance of, or in accordance with, the Food and Drug Administration's guidance on developing patient-reported outcomes. Behavioral measurements of HSDD were isolated from these sets of criteria or scales.Main outcome measuresWe outline a plan to evaluate such behavioral measurements of HSDD with reference to SSEs.ResultsEleven rating scales, four expert-originated and seven self-rated scales mainly derived from patient input were identified as well validated and relevant to HSDD. Three recent sets of diagnostic criteria for conditions such as HSDD were compared with the scales. Twenty-four different symptoms were found in the scales. Content found relevant to HSDD during development of the rating scales varied highly among measurements, including the self-rated scales developed in conformity with current recommendations for patient-reported outcome measurements. The only item on all sets was desire for sexual activity. Four other items were in approximately at least half the sets: sexual thoughts or fantasies, frequency of sexual activity, receptivity, and initiations. Sexual thoughts or fantasies were in every expert-derived set but in only three of the seven patient-derived sets. Receptivity was in five of the seven expert-derived sets vs two of the seven patient-derived sets. Frequency of sexual activity was in one of the seven expert-derived sets but in five of the patient-derived sets. Initiation was in approximately half the two sets. All other items were on one to three sets each. We identified three sexual behaviors of validated specificity for female HSDD: frequency of sexual activity, receptivity, and initiations. Six or seven items are relevant and informative. The item on frequency of sexual activity in the Changes in Sexual Functioning-Female scale is the only item that covers frequency of dyadic and solitary sexual activity. An item in the Female Sexual Desire Questionnaire (FSDQ) covers the intuitively relevant topic of frequency of sexual activity motivated by the woman's desire. Three FSDQ items on initiations and two items on receptivity reflect expert opinion on the sexual behaviors of most relevance to HSDD, but the FSDQ has not been validated in women with HSDD.ConclusionsSSEs have been discredited as the primary measurement in clinical trials of women with HSDD, but it would be meaningful to include at least one sexual behavioral symptom specific to HSDD as an end point. Expert-recommended sexual behaviors specifically related to HSDD are irregularly represented in self-rating scales whether developed as in the Food and Drug Administration guidance on patient-reported outcomes or not. Six or seven items on sexual behavior in self-rated scales can be recommended for relevance to women with HSDD in clinical trials. Items on female sexual behavior should be tested in comparison with SSEs in women with HSDD for relevance and for treatment sensitivity, and responder and functional and dysfunctional cutoffs should be determined before incorporation into large-scale clinical trials. Pyke R and Clayton A. What Sexual Behaviors Relate to Decreased Sexual Desire in Women? A Review and Proposal for End Points in Treatment Trials for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. Sex Med 2017;5:e73-e83.

Project description:IntroductionErectile function, libido, and sexual bother are incompletely correlated: a man may or may not be satisfied for a given level of erectile function; similarly, 2 men may have the same erectile function and different levels of sexual desire.AimTo explore the relationship between erectile function, sexual satisfaction and sexual desire.MethodsWe examined the Spearman correlation among erectile function (International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF-6]), sexual desire, and sexual bother in 3,944 questionnaires completed by patients after radical prostatectomy as part of routine care. IIEF-6 scores were adjusted if a patient indicated that the reason for not having intercourse was other than lack of ability of confidence (eg, lack of partner).Main outcome measurePatient-reported outcome instruments.ResultsMedian age at surgery and preoperative IIEF-6 were 63 years and 26, respectively. Among questionnaires completed after surgery, there was moderate correlation among the IIEF-6 score and both sexual desire (Spearman rho: 0.41) and sexual bother (Spearman rho: 0.30). In men who reported high or moderate bother relating to sexual function, there was a narrow distribution of erectile function scores, with most men reporting poor function (median IIEF-6: 6, interquartile range 3, 11). For men who reported small or no problem with sexual function, the distribution of erectile function scores was wide, and particularly bimodal as a function of sexual desire. Among patients with high desire, the correlation between sexual bother and erectile function was 0.61 (ie, the poorer is your function, the greater you are bothered), whereas it was -0.081 among patients with low desire, meaning that some men are not bothered by poor erections.Clinical implicationsWe provided useful insights to help physicians during sexual counselling after surgery for prostate cancer.Strength & limitationsThe study included a large number of patients and provides evidence for implementation of patient-reported outcome insturments. Limitations include the retrospective nature of our data.ConclusionSexual desire helps explain the moderate correlation between erectile function and sexual bother. Sexual desire and bother questions should be incorporated in patient-reported outcome instruments for male sexual function. Bravi CA, Tin A, Montorsi F, et al. Erectile Function and Sexual Satisfaction: The Importance of Asking About Sexual Desire. J Sex Med 2020;17:349-352.

Dataset Information

Are Sexual Desire and Sociosexual Orientation Related to Men's Salivary Steroid Hormones?

Publications

Are Sexual Desire and Sociosexual Orientation Related to Men's Salivary Steroid Hormones?

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