ABSTRACT
Sexual health is considered a crucial issue in determining the well-being of a woman and her partner during the entire life span. Women’s sexuality is multidimensional; indeed, the net expression of sexuality before and after the menopause is the result of a complex interplay among physical, psychological and sociocultural dynamics, and hormonal deficiency cannot be the sole factor to explain the multitude and the rate of climacteric complaints, including sexual symptoms, in different cultures and countries1-3. On the other hand, some women adjust very well to the crucial step of the menopause, and a pre-existing healthy relationship with their partner, and good general health of both partners and relatives together with the absence of negative life circumstances, contribute positively to sexual function4,5. However,sex hormones play a crucial role in maintaining the anatomical and functional integrity of all the structures involved in women’s sexual response. While the role of estrogen in the activity of neuroendocrine circuitries and in the trophism of genital organs has been well established, the contribution of androgens to female physical and mental wellbeing is still a matter of debate6-8.
