The effect of l-thyroxine treatment on sexual function and depressive symptoms in men with autoimmune hypothyroidism.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid autoimmunity and mild hypothyroidism in women seem to be associated with sexual dysfunction and depressive symptoms. Data concerning similar associations in men are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate sexual functioning and depressive symptoms in men with autoimmune hypothyroidism.


METHODS
The study population consisted of three groups: men with autoimmune overt hypothyroidism (group A), men with autoimmune subclinical hypothyroidism (group B) and healthy euthyroid males without thyroid autoimmunity (group C). Apart from measuring serum levels of thyrotropin and free thyroid hormones and thyroid antibody titers, all included patients completed a questionnaires evaluating male sexual function (International Index of Erectile Function-15: IIEF-15) and assessing the presence and severity of depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition - BDI-II) before and after 6 months of levothyroxine treatment.


RESULTS
Men with overt hypothyroidism obtained lower scores in all five domains of IIEF-15, while men with subclinical hypothyroidism only in erectile function. The total BDI-II score was higher in groups A than in groups B and C, as well as higher in group B than in group C. L-thyroxine improved erectile function and normalized intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, sexual desire and overall satisfaction in group A, as well as normalized erectile function in group B. In group A, L-thyroxine reduced, while in group B tended to reduce total BDI-II.


CONCLUSIONS
The obtained results suggest that autoimmune hypothyroidism in men is characterized by sexual and mood disturbances and that hypothyroid patients with sexual dysfunction and depressive symptoms benefit from L-thyroxine treatment.
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: r.krysiak@interia.pl.
Robert
R
Krysiak
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Witold
W
Szkróbka
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Bogusław
B
Okopień
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine
Depressive symptoms; Hypothyroidism; Sexual functioning; Thyroid autoimmunity