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Article

Assessment of the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Sexual Function of Women, Levels of Oxytocin and Prolactin: A Prospective Cohort Study

by
Klaudia Żak
1,*,†,
Ernest Starek
2,*,†,
Agnieszka Korga-Plewko
3,
Karolina Rasoul-Pelińska
2,
Monika Abramiuk
2,4,
Mariola Michalczuk
3,
Alicja Rajtak
2,
Jan Kotarski
5,
Karolina Frankowska
2,
Liliana Bis
2,
Marta Ostrowska-Leśko
6,† and
Marcin Bobiński
2,†
1
Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
2
I Chair and Department of Oncologic Gynecology and Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
3
Independent Medical Biology Unit, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
4
Independent Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
5
Independent Laboratory of Cancer Diagnostics and Immunology, Medical University in Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
6
Chair and Department of Toxicology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(8), 2230; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13082230
Submission received: 23 February 2024 / Revised: 5 April 2024 / Accepted: 9 April 2024 / Published: 12 April 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Consequences of COVID-19: 2nd Edition)
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Abstract

(1) Background: There is a lack of direct evidence on whether SARS-CoV-2 affects women’s sexual function through a biological-organic mechanism. Existing studies on the topic are few and have produced contradictory results. This study aims to explore the possible relationship between sex hormones and sexual function in patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we aimed to determine whether these changes are related to the clinical course of COVID-19 and whether they are temporary or long-lasting. (2) Methods: A study was conducted on 104 women, including 64 women infected with COVID-19 and a control group of 40 healthy women, between January 2021 and August 2022. Blood samples were collected to measure prolactin and oxytocin levels, and a clinical assessment was performed 3 and 6 months later. Sexual function self-assessment was captured based on the FSFI scale. (3) Results: Our study found that patients with severe COVID-19 had better sexual satisfaction scores one month after recovery but no discernible difference after six months. High levels of serum prolactin were observed in patients with active COVID-19 but became similar to a control group after one month and remained stable over time. Higher prolactin levels were significantly associated with increased arousal and hydration. Individuals with severe COVID-19 had notably low levels of plasma oxytocin, but there was no correlation between oxytocin levels and sexual satisfaction. (4) Conclusions: The gynecologic symptoms, as well as disturbances in oxytocin and prolactin levels, might be observed in a short time after infection. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection has no lasting effect on sexual function, oxytocin, and prolactin levels among women.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; oxytocin; prolactin; FSFI; female sexual function SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; oxytocin; prolactin; FSFI; female sexual function

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MDPI and ACS Style

Żak, K.; Starek, E.; Korga-Plewko, A.; Rasoul-Pelińska, K.; Abramiuk, M.; Michalczuk, M.; Rajtak, A.; Kotarski, J.; Frankowska, K.; Bis, L.; et al. Assessment of the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Sexual Function of Women, Levels of Oxytocin and Prolactin: A Prospective Cohort Study. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 2230. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13082230

AMA Style

Żak K, Starek E, Korga-Plewko A, Rasoul-Pelińska K, Abramiuk M, Michalczuk M, Rajtak A, Kotarski J, Frankowska K, Bis L, et al. Assessment of the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Sexual Function of Women, Levels of Oxytocin and Prolactin: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024; 13(8):2230. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13082230

Chicago/Turabian Style

Żak, Klaudia, Ernest Starek, Agnieszka Korga-Plewko, Karolina Rasoul-Pelińska, Monika Abramiuk, Mariola Michalczuk, Alicja Rajtak, Jan Kotarski, Karolina Frankowska, Liliana Bis, and et al. 2024. "Assessment of the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Sexual Function of Women, Levels of Oxytocin and Prolactin: A Prospective Cohort Study" Journal of Clinical Medicine 13, no. 8: 2230. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13082230

APA Style

Żak, K., Starek, E., Korga-Plewko, A., Rasoul-Pelińska, K., Abramiuk, M., Michalczuk, M., Rajtak, A., Kotarski, J., Frankowska, K., Bis, L., Ostrowska-Leśko, M., & Bobiński, M. (2024). Assessment of the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Sexual Function of Women, Levels of Oxytocin and Prolactin: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(8), 2230. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13082230

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