Introdução: A Síndrome dos Ovários Policísticos (SOP) é uma doença que acomete de 5 a 10% das mulheres. A SOP tem sido relacionada em alguns estudos à disfunção sexual, ao aumento da ansiedade e depressão e à redução da qualidade de vida. Essas alterações podem estar relacionadas às alterações fenotípicas da SOP como o aumento do peso e das circunferências de quadril e cintura resultantes do hiperandrogenismo. A alteração no estilo de vida, principalmente envolvendo a prática de exercícios físicos, tem sido relevante na melhora das condições de saúde. Até o momento, há poucos estudos avaliando os efeitos do treinamento físico aeróbio sobre a função sexual em mulheres com SOP. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do treinamento físico aeróbico na função sexual de mulheres com a Síndrome dos Ovários Policísticos. Métodos: Trata-se de um ensaio clínico controlado com alocação aleatória e randomização estratificada pelo índice de massa corporal (IMC) em 3 grupos paralelos: grupo treinamento aeróbio contínuo (GAC), grupo treinamento aeróbio intermitente (GAI) e grupo controle sem treinamento (GC), sendo GAC com 23 voluntárias, o GAI com 22 voluntárias e o GC com 24 voluntárias. As avaliações ocorreram antes e após o período de 16 semanas de intervenção do treinamento físico aeróbio ou de observação no grupo controle. Foi realizada dosagem plasmática de testosterona, antes e após a intervenção. A função sexual, o risco de ansiedade e depressão e a qualidade de vida foram avaliados respectivamente, por meio dos questionários validados para o Português: Índice de Função Sexual Feminina (IFSF), Escala de Ansiedade e Depressão Hospitalar (HAD), e Questionário de Qualidade de Vida - SF-36. Resultados: Houve diferença significante na RCQ no grupo GAI (p = 0.047) e redução nos níveis de testosterona nos grupos GAC (p < 0.01) e GAI (p = 0.04). Na avaliação do IFSF no GC não houve qualquer alteração antes e após as 16 semanas. Contudo no GAC ocorreu aumento nos escores IFSF total (p = 0.048), satisfação (p = 0.049) e dor (p = 0.03). No GAI foram observados aumentos nos escores: IFSF total (p < 0.01), desejo (p < 0.01), excitação (p < 0.01), lubrificação (p < 0.01), orgasmo (p < 0.01) e satisfação (p = 0.02). Já na avaliação do questionário HAD observou- se diminuição tanto na ansiedade (p = 0.01) e (p < 0.01), quanto na depressão (p < 0.01) e (p = 0.02) nos grupos GAC e GAI respectivamente. Com relação ao SF-36 no GAC foram identificados aumento do escores: aspectos físicos (p = 0.01); estado geral de saúde (p = 0.02); vitalidade (p < 0.01); aspectos sociais (p < 0.01); aspectos emocionais (p = 0.03) e saúde mental (p < 0.01). No GAI houve elevação dos escores: capacidade funcional (p < 0.01); estado geral de saúde (p < 0.01); vitalidade (p < 0.01); aspectos sociais (p < 0.01); aspectos emocionais (p = 0.03) e saúde mental (p < 0.01). Conclusão: Ambos os protocolos de treinamento físico aeróbio foram eficazes na melhora da função sexual, ansiedade e depressão e qualidade de vida, observando maior efetividade no treinamento físico aeróbio intermitente. / Introduction: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a disease that affects 5 to 10% of women. PCOS has been linked in some studies to sexual dysfunction, increased anxiety and depression, and reduced quality of life. These changes may be related to phenotypic changes in PCOS such as increased weight and hip and waist circumferences resulting from hyperandrogenism. The change in lifestyle, mainly involving the practice of physical exercises, has been relevant in improving health conditions. To date, there are few studies evaluating the effects of aerobic exercise training on sexual function in women with PCOS. Objective: To evaluate the effect of aerobic physical training on the sexual function of women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Methods: This is a controlled clinical trial with random allocation and randomization stratified by body mass index (BMI) in 3 parallel groups: continuous aerobic training group (GAC), intermittent aerobic training group (GAI) and control group without training (GC), GAC with 23 volunteers, GAI with 22 volunteers and GC with 24 volunteers. Evaluations occurred before and after the 16-week intervention period of aerobic or observational physical training in the control group. Testosterone plasma levels were measured before and after the intervention. Sexual function, risk of anxiety and depression, and quality of life were evaluated, respectively, using validated questionnaires for Portuguese: Female Sexual Function Index (IFSF), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), and Questionnaire Quality of Life - SF-36. Results: There was a significant difference in WHR in the GAI group (p = 0.047) and reduction in testosterone levels in the groups GAC (p <0.01) and GAI (p = 0.04). In the evaluation of IFSF in the CG there was no change before and after 16 weeks. However, in GAC, there was an increase in total IFSF (p = 0.048), satisfaction (p = 0.049) and pain (p = 0.03). GAI showed increases in scores: total IFSF (p <0.01), desire (p <0.01), excitation (p <0.01), lubrication (p <0.01), orgasm (p <0.01) and satisfaction (p = 0.02). In the evaluation of the HAD questionnaire, both anxiety (p = 0.01) and (p <0.01) and depression (p <0.01) and (p = 0.02) in the GAC and GAI groups respectively. Regarding the SF-36 in the GAC was identified increase of the scores: physical aspects (p = 0.01); general health status (p = 0.02); vitality (p <0.01); social aspects (p <0.01); emotional aspects (p = 0.03) and mental health (p <0.01). In GAI there was elevation of the scores: functional capacity (p <0.01); general health status (p <0.01); vitality (p <0.01); social aspects (p <0.01); emotional aspects (p = 0.03) and mental health (p <0.01). Conclusion: Both aerobic physical training protocols were effective in improving sexual function, anxiety and depression and quality of life, observing greater effectiveness in intermittent aerobic physical training.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects women’s menstrual cycles and their levels of androgens (male hormones) and cysts on the ovaries. There is a variety of symptoms that come with this endocrine disorder, but insulin resistance is a hallmark symptom of the disorder. It’s shown that 65-70% of women with PCOS have insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, this is in women that are overweight, obese, or lean (Marshall & Dunaif, 2012). A lot of women with PCOS find themselves struggling to lose weight because their excess weight is tied to lifestyle and not properly nourishing their bodies, as well as their imbalanced hormones. The understanding of PCOS being a metabolic disorder led to the investigation of the need for registered dietitian nutritionists on the health team of women with PCOS could change the quality of life in women. We developed a survey based on the literature available on the topic of PCOS, diet/nutrition interventions, and the role of RDNs in the healthcare team of PCOS women of childbearing age. Only childbearing-age women (18-44) that have been diagnosed with PCOS were allowed to complete the survey. The survey was comprised of three sections and was designed to be a needs assessment on the need for registered dietitian-nutritionists to be included in the healthcare team of PCOS women. The questions were designed also show any gaps of knowledge or misconceptions about nutrition that these women may have. Lastly, it was designed to examine if women understand how nutrition relates to the management of their symptoms of PCOS and future disease risks. The data from this survey will show the need for RDNs in the healthcare team of PCOS women, and give us an understanding of nutrition education and intervention that could be developed for future studies. This understanding of how RDNs could play a role in symptom management could lead to a better quality of life in PCOS women.