Capturing the sexual side effects of hormonal contraception.

摘要

I am responding to the article, "The EVAPIL scale" [1]. The sexual question in EVAPIL does not capture the sexual side effects which women complain of from hormonal contraception. "Enjoying intercourse" is mostly related to the quality of a relationship while hormones cause effects in sexual desire, fantasies, sexual thoughts and arousability. In the study by Sanders et al. [2], "decreased frequency of sexual thoughts, and decreased psychosexual arousability" predicted changing or quitting hormonal contraception, In a study by Sabatini et al. [3], "disturbance of sexual intercourse due to vaginal dryness and loss of desire" predicted discontinuation of hormonal contraception. The Sexual Interest and Desire Inventory-Female [4] uses the words "level of sexual interest/sexual desire" to capture this issue.