ABSTRACT

Using data from the third British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3) we examined associations between salivary testosterone (Sal-T) and sexual function and behavior. Single morning saliva samples were self-collected from a subsample of participants aged 18–74 years and analyzed using mass spectrometry. 1,599 men and 2,123 women were included in the analysis (40.6% of those invited to provide a sample). We adjusted for confounders in a stepwise manner: in model 1 we adjusted for age only; model 2 for age, season and relationship status, and model 3 we added BMI and self-reported health. In the fully adjusted models, among men, Sal-T was positively associated with both partnered sex (vaginal sex and concurrent partners) and masturbation. Among women, Sal-T was positively associated with masturbation, the only association with partnered sex was with ever experience of same-sex sex. We found no clear association between Sal-T and sexual function. Our study contributes toward addressing the sparsity of data outside the laboratory on the differences between men and women in the relationship between T and sexual function and behavior. To our knowledge, this is the first population study, among men and women, using a mass spectrometry Sal-T assay to do so.

摘要

使用第三次英国性态度和生活方式全国调查 (Natsal-3) 的数据，我们研究了唾液睾酮 (Sal-T) 与性功能和行为之间的关联。单个早晨唾液样本是从 18-74 岁的参与者子样本中自行收集的，并使用质谱法进行分析。分析中包括 1,599 名男性和 2,123 名女性（占受邀提供样本的人的 40.6%）。我们逐步调整了混杂因素：在模型 1 中，我们仅针对年龄进行了调整；模型 2 用于年龄、季节和关系状态，而模型 3 我们添加了 BMI 和自我报告的健康状况。在完全调整的模型中，在男性中，Sal-T 与伴侣性行为（阴道性行为和同时性伴侣）和手淫呈正相关。在女性中，Sal-T 与手淫呈正相关，与伴侣性行为的唯一关联是曾经有过同性性行为的经历。我们发现 Sal-T 与性功能之间没有明确关联。我们的研究有助于解决实验室外关于男性和女性在 T 与性功能和行为之间关系差异的数据稀疏问题。据我们所知，这是第一项使用质谱 Sal-T 测定法在男性和女性中进行的人口研究。