title: The role of hypothyroidism in male infertility and erectile dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of hypothyroidism on erectile function and sperm parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on 24 patients with hypothyroidism and 66 normal individuals. Serum levels of hormones, including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T4), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), and testosterone, were measured and semen analysis was done in all the participants. Erectile function was evaluated using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IIEF-5 total score was 11.75 [95% confidence interval (CI): 9.70 to 13.79) and 20.81 (95% CI: 20.02 to 21.6) for hypothyroid group and normal subjects, respectively (P = .005). Furthermore, serum concentrations of PRL and seminal parameters were significantly different between two groups (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypothyroidism adversely affects erectile function and sperm parameters, including sperm count, morphology, and motility. In patients with sperm abnormalities and erectile dysfunction, measurement of thyroid hormones is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Urology Research Center, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. nikoobakht_r@live.com
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nikoobakht
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aloosh
authors.forename: Nafiseh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikoobakht
authors.forename: Abdol Rasoul
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mehrsay
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biniaz
authors.forename: Mohammad Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Karjalian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine