The role of prolactin levels in the sexual activity of married men with erectile dysfunction.
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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that prolactin levels might play a role in sexual activity in men with ED.
Paick
Jae-Seung
JS
Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yang
Ji Hyun
JH
Kim
Soo Woong
SW
Ku
Ja Hyeon
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
D011388:Prolactin