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The role of prolactin levels in the sexual activity of married men with erectile dysfunction
Author(s) -
Paick JaeSeung,
Yang Ji Hyun,
Kim Soo Woong,
Ku Ja Hyeon
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2006.06507.x
Subject(s) - erectile dysfunction , medicine , prolactin , sexual function , sexual dysfunction , odds ratio , confidence interval , erectile function , diabetes mellitus , anthropometry , statistical significance , endocrinology , hormone
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) including anthropometry, hormones, metabolic profiles and lifestyle, on sexual activity in married men with ED. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 261 men (mean age 53.7 years, range 23–80), who were evaluated for anthropometry, hormone levels, metabolic profiles and lifestyle factors. Erectile function was evaluated using the self‐administered International Index of Erectile Function. Patients were classified into two groups based on the six‐item erectile‐function domain, as those with sexual activity and those without. RESULTS Of all patients, 62.5% (163 of 261) had no sexual activity (erectile‐function domain score <6). There was a significant difference in mean ( sem ) prolactin level between patients with and with no sexual activity, at 4.8 (0.4) vs 6.8 (0.7) ( P = 0.013). Of all patients, 73.7% (42 of 57) with diabetes had no sexual activity, while 59.3% (121 of 204) without diabetes had ( P = 0.048). In a multivariate model, a higher prolactin level was associated with a greater likelihood of sexual inactivity (odds ratio 1.094; 95% confidence interval, 1.010–1.185; P = 0.028) but diabetes lost its statistical significance. The area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve for prolactin was 60.5% (95% confidence interval, 52.9–68.1%; P = 0.009) for sexual inactivity. No other factors were significant in this regard. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that prolactin levels might play a role in sexual activity in men with ED.