Objective To investigate the sexual function of different clinical phenotypes in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and its correlation with clinical and sex hormonal characteristics. Methods The study evaluated sexual function on PCOS patients and control women in the Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2020 to December 2021, via the Chinese version of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). PCOS were divided into four clinical phenotype groups according to the Rotterdam criteria, A: oligo-ovulation or anovulation (OA) + hyperandrogenism (HA) + polycystic ovaries (PCO); B: OA + HA; C: HA+ PCO; D: OA +PCO. The clinical data that may affect sexual function were collected and sex hormone levels were measured, including anthropometric markers, serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin and total testosterone. Results A total of 910 PCOS women and 402 control women with complete parameters were included in the study. Phenotype A had the lowest total FSFI mean score (23.69±3.20) (
P <0.05); phenotype B, C and D showed a trend of sequential increase. Control group had the highest total FSFI mean score (24.96±3.79) (
P <0.05). Compared with the control group, Group A had the highest risk percentage of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) at 87.5% (
P <0.05), followed by Group B, Group C, and Group D. The control group had the lowest FSD risk percentage, which was 62.19% (
P <0.05). The FSD risk in Group A was higher than that in Group C and Group D (
P <0.05), while the FSD risk in Group B was higher than that in Group D (
P <0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that total testosterone (TT), age, waist circumference, and body fat distribution were negatively correlated with female sexual function. Conclusions Compared with the control group, PCOS patients have a higher risk of FSD and are associated with the clinical phenotype of PCOS. The classic phenotype that simultaneously meets the three diagnostic characteristics of PCOS has the highest risk of FSD. TT, age, waist circumference, and body fat distribution are associated with FSD risk in PCOS women.