Can having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) be linked to a higher sex drive?

Can Testosterone, which is responsible for men's deep voices, muscles and Herculian strength, be cause to increased sex drive in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?

Author: Ashley Levinson-Sells

January 31,2014

Mantua, NJ

We have all heard that sex drive is driven by your hormones and although androgen hormones are often referred to as "male hormones", they are secreted by the adrenal glands in addition to the testes. As a result, androgens are normal hormones for both men and women

So What About Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)?

Women with PCOS typically have hyperandrogenemia(increased male hormones) This increase of androgens in a females body can often cause symptoms such as excessive hair growth (hirsutism) acne or hair loss (alopecia).  However, the increased androgens, testosterone in particular may be cause to evaluate and research if there is a connection to a higher sex drive for women with PCOS.

So here is where it gets tricky.....

There seems to be two distinctions in women with PCOS, those who are overweight and those who are slim.

In women who are overweight, they are predisposed to testosterone dominance which can lead to the male symptoms such as acne, excess hair and chronic fatigue. In the case of these women with higher levels of testosterone, it may not be higher sex drive but increased sexual desire.

In slim women with PCOS, they have mildly increased levels of testosterone as is relative to the estrogen levels, typically do not have the same manifestations as for overweight women with PCOS. Instead, they tend to be athletic build, have chronic stress and have a higher sex drive!

In an article on WebMD By Salynn Boyles, WebMD Health News

"It's looking more and more like the male hormone testosterone may do for women what Viagra did for men. Investigators found that boosting testosterone levels was associated with increased sexual desire in women who complained of menopause-related low libido and reduced sexual arousal. Women taking a low-dose estrogen-testosterone combination treatment reported a two-fold improvement in sexual interest, compared with women treated with estrogen alone. " 

So in essence, women with PCOS bodies are naturally producing excess testosterone that increase a woman's libido, just sayin!

On the Fertility Authority Website.. it states 

http://www.fertilityauthority.com/tests-and-medications/blood-tests-infertility/androgen-testing

"Androgens are typically thought of as male hormones, but they also play an important role in women. In men, androgens support sperm production and the development of male secondary sex characteristics. Women produce androgens in their ovaries and adrenal cortex. Almost all of the androgens a woman makes are immediately converted into estrogen. Estrogen promotes the development of female secondary sex characteristics. It is also involved in thickening the endometrium and regulating the menstrual cycle. The androgens that are not converted into estrogen play a role in sex drive and slowing bone loss." 

Therefore if you are producing excess androgens as in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), you may have a higher sex drive!

While there seems to be no definitive studies with regards to PCOS and an increased libido, there are some suspicions based on the information that is surfacing about androgens and female sexuality.  My thoughts are if the role of androgens is maintaining phyisologic levels and sexual desire, wouldn't make sense that there just may be a connection between PCOS and higher sex drive?

I would love to see more research done and/or to talk to professionals on this topic, as well as hear back from community members with regards to their personal experiences!