DIABETES-MELLITUS AND FEMALE SEXUALITY - A REVIEW OF 25 YEARS RESEARCH

Diabetes mellitus may cause debilitating somatic complications and a h igh psychosocial burden. Impaired sexual function (erectile dysfunctio n) is a well-established complication in men. Does diabetes also have an effect on sexuality of women? Since the first publication in 1971, only 15 studies in this area have been published and their results are contradictory. The purpose of this article is to offer a review of th ese results. As a conclusion, a new hypothesis on the specific influen ce of diabetes on female sexuality and suggestions for further researc h are formulated. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.