ArticleEnvironmental research2025
Associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and female sexual function in a preconception cohort.
Article in Environmental research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Toxicants in sexual health products: highlighting a critical research gap.Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology · 2026Article
- Endocrine disrupting chemicals and female sexual health: An emerging research priority.Environmental research · 2025Article
- Associations between urinary biomarkers of phthalates and phthalate alternatives and female sexual function in a North American cohort.The journal of sexual medicine · 2025Article
- Article
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10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFemale sexual function is important for sexual well-being, general health, fertility, and relationship satisfaction. Distressing impairments in sexual function, clinically recognized as female sexual dysfunction (FSD), can manifest as issues with interest/desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain during vaginal penetration. Some evidence suggests that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may adversely affect female sexual function, but associations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have not been previously evaluated.
objectiveWe investigated associations between serum PFAS concentrations and female sexual function among U.S. pregnancy planners.
methodsWe used cross-sectional data from participants from Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a prospective preconception cohort study. Participants reported sexual function and distress at baseline on two validated measures: a modified version of the Female Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS). We quantified PFAS serum concentrations in samples collected in the preconception period (i.e., at baseline) using solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-isotope-dilution-mass spectrometry. Participants reported sociodemographic information on structured baseline questionnaires. We included 78 participants with complete PFAS and sexual function data and fit multivariable linear regression models to estimate mean differences in FSFI-6 scores (β) or percent differences (%) in FSDS scores per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PFAS concentrations, adjusting for age, annual household income, years of education, parity, and body mass index. We further investigated effect measure modification by parity (parous vs. nulliparous) in stratified models.
resultsAn IQR increase in perfluorohexanesulfonic acid was associated with a 1.0-point decrease (95% CI = -1.8, -0.1) in reported FSFI-6 scores, reflecting poorer sexual function. PFAS were consistently associated with lower FSFI-6 scores among parous participants. PFAS were also associated, though imprecisely, with greater sexual distress.
conclusionSome PFAS were associated with poorer sexual function among U.S. pregnancy planners, but future studies are needed to clarify the extent to which PFAS influences female sexual health.
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