Erectile Dysfunction and Low Serum Testosterone, Are They Related? Sometimes.

The following are excerpts from the Emedicine/Medscape  article Erectile Dysfunction:

Role of testosterone

Both ED and low testosterone (hypogonadism) increase with age. The incidence of the latter is 40% in men aged 45 years and older.^[1] Testosterone is known to be important in mood, cognition, vitality, bone health, and muscle and fat composition. It also plays a key role in sexual dysfunction (eg, low libido, poor erection quality, ejaculatory or orgasmic dysfunction, reduced spontaneous erections, or reduced sexual activity).^[2]

The association between low testosterone and ED is not entirely clear. Although these 2 processes certainly overlap in some instances, they are distinct entities. Some 2-21% of men have both hypogonadism and ED; however, it is unclear to what degree treating the former will improve erectile function.^[3] About 35-40% of men with low testosterone see an improvement in their erections with testosterone replacement; however, almost 65% of these men see no improvement.^[1]

One study examined the role of testosterone supplementation in hypogonadal men with ED. These men were considered nonresponders to sildenafil, and their erections were monitored by assessing nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT). After these men were given testosterone transdermally for 6 months, the number of NPTs increased, as did the maximum rigidity with sildenafil.^[4] This study suggests that a certain level of testosterone may be necessary for PDE5 inhibitors to function properly.

In a randomized double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial, sildenafil plus testosterone was not superior to sildenafil plus placebo in improving erectile function in men with ED and low testosterone levels.^[5] The objective of the study was to determine whether the addition of testosterone to sildenafil therapy improves erectile response in men with ED and low testosterone levels.

However, in contrast, a recent systematic review of published studies, the authors concluded that overall, the addition of testosterone to PDE-5 inhibitors might benefit patients with ED associated with testosterone levels of less than 300 ng/dL (10.4 nmol/L) who failed monotherapy.^[6] A limitation of existing studies are their heterogeneous nature and methodological drawbacks.

Footnotes

1. Mulligan T, Frick MF, Zuraw QC, Stemhagen A, McWhirter C. Prevalence of hypogonadism in males aged at least 45 years: the HIM study. Int J Clin Pract. 2006 Jul. 60(7):762-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].
2. Guay AT. Testosterone and erectile physiology. Aging Male. 2006 Dec. 9(4):201-6. [Medline].
3. Zhang XH, Melman A, Disanto ME. Update on corpus cavernosum smooth muscle contractile pathways in erectile function: a role for testosterone?. J Sex Med. 2011 Jul. 8(7):1865-79. [Medline].
4. Foresta C, Caretta N, Rossato M, Garolla A, Ferlin A. Role of androgens in erectile function. J Urol. 2004 Jun. 171(6 Pt 1):2358-62, quiz 2435. [Medline].
5. Spitzer M, Basaria S, Travison TG, et al. Effect of testosterone replacement on response to sildenafil citrate in men with erectile dysfunction: a parallel, randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2012 Nov 20. 157(10):681-91. [Medline].
6. Alhathal N, Elshal AM, Carrier S. Synergetic effect of testosterone and phophodiesterase-5 inhibitors in hypogonadal men with erectile dysfunction: A systematic review. Can Urol Assoc J. 2012 Aug. 6(4):269-74. [Medline]. [Full Text].

Etiology

ED usually has a multifactorial etiology. Organic, physiologic, endocrine, and psychogenic factors are involved in the ability to obtain and maintain erections. In general, ED is divided into 2 broad categories, organic and psychogenic. Although most ED was once attributed to psychological factors, pure psychogenic ED is in fact uncommon; however, many men with organic etiologies may also have an associated psychogenic component.

Conditions that may be associated with ED include diabetes,^{[25, 26, 27]}hypertension,^[28] , and CAD, as well as neurologic disorders, endocrinopathies, benign prostatic hyperplasia,^[29] , sleep apnea^[30] , COPD^[31] , and depression (see Table 1 below).^{[32, 33, 34, 35]} In fact, almost any disease may affect erectile function by altering the nervous, vascular, or hormonal systems. Various diseases may produce changes in the smooth muscle tissue of the corpora cavernosa or influence the patient’s psychological mood and behavior.

1. (25)
2. (26)
3. 27
4. 28
5. 29
6. 30
7. 31
8. 32
9. 33
10. 34
11. 35