title: Relationship between sexual function, body mass index and levels of sex steroid hormones in young men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In older men, sexual disorders may be the result of a decrease in testosterone and an increase in sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) serum levels. Although obesity may enhance the decline of testosterone, it is also the cause of metabolic disorders, which are additional risk factors of erectile dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether elevated body weight is associated with decreased serum testosterone concentrations and reduced sexual function in young men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on general health, medication, depressive symptomatology and sexual life was obtained from 136 men aged 20-49 years. Blood levels of LH, total testosterone (TT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), oestradiol, SHBG, total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides were determined. Body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and free testosterone index (FTI) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly reduced occurrence of sexual fantasies, morning erections and erectile function scores was observed in the oldest group compared to the youngest men with normal BMI, although orgasmic function was unchanged. A significant decrease in TT serum levels was observed in obese 30-year-olds compared to men with normal BMI, while in obese 40-year-olds decreased LH and SHBG levels were also found. No differences in the levels of lipids and sexual achievements were found among men with different BMI. However, erectile function and morning erections significantly negatively correlated with age, BMI and WHR, and positively with FTI, but not with other studied hormones and lipids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In young men, obesity can lead to a deterioration of erectile function as a result of lower testosterone levels as the only reason.
authors: asgdaigsdo@op.pl.
authors: Sylwia
authors: S
authors: Jastrzębska
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Walczak-Jędrzejowska
authors: Edyta
authors: E
authors: Kramek
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Marchlewska
authors: Elżbieta
authors: E
authors: Oszukowska
authors: Eliza
authors: E
authors: Filipiak
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Kula
authors: Jolanta
authors: J
authors: Słowikowska-Hilczer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone