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A review of the literature reveals that the endocrine determinants of female sexuality
are complex and difficult to characterize. In adolescent males, free testosterone
directly affects sexual motivation, with social factors exerting little or no effect.
In adolescent girls, by contrast, societal and peer pressure play a pivotal role in
the appearance of certain sexual behaviors. Throughout a woman's life, hormonal and
psychosocial factors are critical influences. It is possible that cyclic patterns
of testosterone are less important for female sexual behavior than the “tonic” effect
of overall testosterone levels. Although the estrogen dependence of the vaginal epithelium—important
for postmenopausal women—has been clearly established, the role of other hormonal
factors and treatments, particularly those involving androgens, in human female sexual
behavior remains enigmatic. The search for an understanding of these relationships
is not merely an interestsing academic exercise but is necessary to determine what
role, if any, androgens may play in the treatment of sexual dysfunction during the
female reproductive years.
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© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.
