Relation of sexual dysfunction to hormone levels, diseases and drugs used in andrological patients.

In 169 patients visiting our department complaining of sexual dysfunction, the medical history was taken using a semistructured interview. A clinical investigation and a hormone analysis were added. The age of patients, hormone values, and items of the interview were collected into a common database. The items were categorized as either dichotomous (yes/no) or ordinal. Statistical analysis was performed using regression analysis with the aim to generate hypotheses of relations. An increase of FSH levels and a decrease of testosterone levels with age occurred. None of the relations of hormone levels or diseases to symptoms of sexual dysfunction produced odds ratios (OR) statistically significant different from 1. However, the risk of having a reduced libido and reduced morning erections was lower in psychoneurological diseases, the risk of reduced arousal and libido was lower in men with diabetes mellitus, but the risk of reduced morning erections was higher in these men. The testosterone levels were not associated with the risk of having reduced penile rigidity, duration of erection, arousal and sexual libido, reduced morning erections and the ability to masturbate. Smoking was not associated with reduced arousal, libido and morning erections. However, a significant increase of testosterone levels with number of cigarettes used was observed. We conclude that sexual dysfunction in patients visiting an andrological department for diagnosis and treatment is mostly not associated to any single evaluable factor. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel