RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sexual function of women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) and to test the mediating effects of depression and anxiety on the sexual functioning of women with FHA. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, participants completed questionnaires on sexual function, depression, and anxiety. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. PATIENT(S): Women with (n=41) and without (n=39) FHA recruited from a gynecologic endocrinology unit. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire assessed sexual function, and the Zung Scale measured depression and anxiety. RESULT(S): Women with FHA experienced more sexual function problems and significantly higher depression and anxiety compared to women without menstrual dysfunction. In addition, depression offered a significant explanation for the sexual problems experienced by women with FHA. CONCLUSION(S): The psychologic symptoms that contribute to the onset of FHA partially mediate the relationship between FHA and sexual dysfunction.