Introduction. Women with diabetes experience diminished genital arousal, reduced vaginal lubrication, vaginal atrophy, dyspareunia, and increased infections. Limited studies are available investigating the effects of diabetic complications on the vagina.

Aims. The goals of this study were to investigate type 2 diabetes-induced changes in vaginal structure, and to determine if estradiol treatment ameliorates these changes.

Methods. Eight-week-old female diabetic (db/db) mice (strain BKS.Cg-m+/+Leprdb/J) and age-matched control normoglycemic female littermates were used to investigate the effects of type 2 diabetes on vaginal tissue structural integrity. Diabetic animals were divided into two subgroups: diabetic treated with vehicle only and diabetic treated with pellets containing estradiol. At 16 weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and the vaginal tissues were excised and analyzed by histological and immunohistochemical methods to assess diabetes-induced changes in vaginal tissue and the extent by which these parameters are restored by estradiol treatment.

Main Outcome Measures. The effects of type 2 diabetes and estradiol supplementation were investigated on vaginal histoarchitecture.

Results. Diabetic animals exhibited high blood glucose levels (>600 mg/dL), increased body weight (43.0 ± 6.0 g vs. 24.4 ± 2.0 g), and reduced plasma estradiol levels (65.5 ± 6.6 pg/mL vs. 80.77 ± 13.2 pg/mL) when compared to control animals. Diabetes resulted in significant thinning of the epithelium (P ≤ 0.05), marked decrease in the muscularis area (P ≤ 0.05), distinct truncation of elastic fibers, and significant reduction of the nitrergic immunoreactive nerve fibers (P ≤ 0.05). Treatment of diabetic animals with estradiol restored epithelial thickness (P ≤ 0.05), muscularis area (P ≤ 0.05), and elastic fiber distribution, and partially restored the density of nitrergic nerve fibers.

Conclusions. The data in this study demonstrate that type 2 diabetes disrupts vaginal structural integrity and that estradiol supplementation ameliorates the diabetes-induced vaginal pathology.

Study team:
Cushman TT, Kim N, Hoyt R, and Traish A. Estradiol ameliorates diabetes-induced changes in vaginal structure of db/db mouse model. J Sex Med **;**:**–**.
DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)
10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01316.x About DOI
Article Information
Estradiol Ameliorates Diabetes-Induced Changes in Vaginal Structure of db/db Mouse Model
Tulay T. Cushman, Noel Kim, Richard Hoyt, Abdulmaged Traish
Journal of Sexual Medicine
Volume 9999, Issue 9999 , Pages –
© 2008 International Society for Sexual Medicine
Abstract
Article published on behalf of International Society for Sexual Medicine in Journal of Sexual Medicine

Citation:
AU: Tulay T. Cushman, Noel Kim, Richard Hoyt, Abdulmaged Traish

TI: Estradiol Ameliorates Diabetes-Induced Changes in Vaginal Structure of db/db Mouse Model

SO: Journal of Sexual Medicine

VL: 9999

NO: 9999

YR: 2009

CP: © 2009 International Society for Sexual Medicine

ON: 1743-6109

PN: 1743-6095

AD: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA;; Department of Urology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA;; Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01316.x

US: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01316.x

Is it not possible that this 1/2 of women labeled as having Female Sexual Dysfunction have more need of romance in relationships to be able to not fall technically into the category of Female Sexual Dysfunction? Or, is it not possible that this 1/2 of women population are totally normal and that the medicos should change their definition of FSD.  Instead of recognizing and acknowledging that women with FSD as defined today, for example, hypoactive sexual desire, is biologically normal.

\Why not FIRST study NORMAL FEMALE SEXUAL RESPONSE? Come to a consensus. Then on the basis of what is acknowledged as normal, scientists can define FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION. The demographic study thus published will be closer to reality being based on accepted criteria of Woman’s Normal Sexuality.

Apparently after the hype and deluge of Viagra (c) since 1998, the pharmaceutical companies have been  desperately looking for similar sensational drug, which would be a best seller. This search influences definition of Female Sexual Dysfucntions. Even after a decade pharmaceutical companies have not seized any single drug comparable to Viagra (c).

Dr. Ashok Koparday, Consultant in Psycho Sexual Medicine believes that this 30 % to 50 % who are labeled today as Female Sexual Dysfunctions are not abnormal. Instead, they are other separate group of normal sexual behavior in women.
Authors Jennifer R. Berman, Javier Bassuk
¹UCLA Medical Center, Female Sexual Medicine Center, 924 Westwood Blvd., Suite 515, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA

18.8 % had trouble lubricating.

Differences based on Marriage, Education, Income status in women having problem in AROUSAL and ORGASM

Study published by Laumann et al. (1994)

By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T

In a national probability sample conducted in the United States that assessed the experience of sexual problems in the last 12 months,

Laumann and team conducted personal interviews with a probability sample of 3,432 American women and men between the ages of 18 and 59, undertaken by the National Opinion Research Center

About

FEMALE ORGASM

found that

24.1 % of women were unable to experience an orgasm and

18.8 % had trouble lubricating.
Interestingly, women who were

21.9% MARRIED were less likely to experience difficulties in achieving orgasm (21.9%) than those who were

26.6 % never married (26.6%) or

28.6 % divorced (28.6%).

Women with

13.3 %  higher levels of EDUCATION also experienced fewer problems in achieving orgasm (13.3% of those with a master’s or advanced degree) than those with

30.0 % less formal education (30.0% of those not completing high school). Similarly, women with

20.8 % highINCOMES experienced fewer problems in their orgasmic functioning (20.8%) than those with

27.4 % low incomes (27.4%).

About

FEMALE SEXUAL AROUSAL

reverse sexual arousal.

21.6 % MARRIED women experienced more problems (21.6%) than

15.0 % never-married (15.0%) or

16.6 % divorced (16.6%) women.

Women with a master’s or advanced degree experienced

23.7 % EDUCATION more problems (23.7%) than those with

14.0 % less than a high school education (14.0%).

Finally, problems in sexual arousal were experienced by

23.7 % of high-INCOME women versus

13.9 % of low-income women.

Laumann et. al. 1994

About

80 % of American adults had only one or no sexual PARTNER in the past year.

20 % of the population had two or more partners.

Study published by Laumann et al. (1994)

The Social Organization of Sexuality

By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T.

PREVALENCE OF FEMALE SEXUAL DISORDERS

[BOOK] Sex in America: A Definitive Survey
RT Michael, EO Laumann, GB Kolata, JH Gagnon – 1994 - popline.org
The Social Organization of Sexuality, a report on the nation’s most comprehensive representative survey of sexual behavior in the general population to date, finally offers that basic information. Conducted by a research team centered at the University of Chicago, the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) was designed to determine the incidence and prevalence of sexual practices and to place them in their social contexts. Based on personal interviews with a probability sample of 3,432 American women and men between the ages of 18 and 59, undertaken by the National Opinion Research Center, this study explores the extent to which sexual conduct and general attitudes toward sexuality are influenced by gender, age, marital status, and other demographic characteristics. The results of this survey both allow us to better understand how sexual behavior is organized in American society, and offer significant implications for policymakers struggling with many of the nation’s crucial health problems. In exploring the rate of new partner formation, for example, the researchers discovered that about 80% of American adults had only one or no sexual partner in the past year. By concentrating AIDS awareness information on the 20% of the population that had two or more partners. AIDS strategists would be better able to target and persuade this segment of the population to modify their sexual behavior.
Other topics covered by the survey include early sexual experiences, masturbation, contraception and fertility, abortion, sexual abuse, coercion, sexual health, satisfaction, and sexual dysfunction. A wide variety of sexual practices and preferences are also explored in the questionnaire,including specific questions on homosexual desire, identity, and behavior, the appeal of various sexual practices, and their frequency and incorporation into sexual lives.
More details
The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States
By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels