The Relationships between Sex Hormones and Sexual Function in Middle-Aged and Older European Men.
(2011) In The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 96. p.1577-1587- Abstract
- Context: Limited data are available exploring the associations between sex hormones, multiple domains of sexual functioning, and sexual function-related distress in nonpatient samples in Europe. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between serum testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and sexual function in a multicenter population-based study of aging in men. Design: Using stratified random sampling, 2838 men aged 40-79 yr completed the European Male Ageing Study-Sexual Function Questionnaire and provided a blood sample for hormone measurements. T, E2, and DHT were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Setting: We conducted a community-based population survey in eight... (More)
- Context: Limited data are available exploring the associations between sex hormones, multiple domains of sexual functioning, and sexual function-related distress in nonpatient samples in Europe. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between serum testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and sexual function in a multicenter population-based study of aging in men. Design: Using stratified random sampling, 2838 men aged 40-79 yr completed the European Male Ageing Study-Sexual Function Questionnaire and provided a blood sample for hormone measurements. T, E2, and DHT were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Setting: We conducted a community-based population survey in eight European centers. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported sexual function (overall sexual function, sexual function-related distress, erectile dysfunction, masturbation) was measured. Results: Total and free T, but not E2 or DHT, was associated with overall sexual function in middle-aged and older men. E2 was the only hormone associated with sexual function-related distress such that higher levels were related to greater distress. Free T levels were associated with masturbation frequency and erectile dysfunction in the fully adjusted models, such that higher T was associated with less dysfunction and greater frequency. Moreover, there was a T threshold for the relationship between total T, sexual function, and erectile dysfunction. At T concentrations of 8 nmol/liter or less, T was associated with worse sexual functioning, whereas at T levels over 8 nmol/liter, the relationship came to a plateau. Conclusions: These findings suggest that different hormonal mechanisms may regulate sexual functioning (T) vs. the psychological aspects (E2) of male sexual behavior. Moreover, there was a T threshold for overall sexual function such that at levels greater than 8 nmol/liter the relationship between T and sexual function did not become stronger. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2150921
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2011
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
- volume
- 96
- pages
- 1577 - 1587
- publisher
- Oxford University Press
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000295879600003
- pmid:21849522
- scopus:80053534245
- pmid:21849522
- ISSN
- 1945-7197
- DOI
- 10.1210/jc.2010-2216
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d436dc6e-dbdc-44a4-8364-efdedd1b4dce (old id 2150921)
- alternative location
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21849522?dopt=Abstract
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 09:22:16
- date last changed
- 2022-04-11 12:19:33
@article{d436dc6e-dbdc-44a4-8364-efdedd1b4dce, abstract = {{Context: Limited data are available exploring the associations between sex hormones, multiple domains of sexual functioning, and sexual function-related distress in nonpatient samples in Europe. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between serum testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and sexual function in a multicenter population-based study of aging in men. Design: Using stratified random sampling, 2838 men aged 40-79 yr completed the European Male Ageing Study-Sexual Function Questionnaire and provided a blood sample for hormone measurements. T, E2, and DHT were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Setting: We conducted a community-based population survey in eight European centers. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported sexual function (overall sexual function, sexual function-related distress, erectile dysfunction, masturbation) was measured. Results: Total and free T, but not E2 or DHT, was associated with overall sexual function in middle-aged and older men. E2 was the only hormone associated with sexual function-related distress such that higher levels were related to greater distress. Free T levels were associated with masturbation frequency and erectile dysfunction in the fully adjusted models, such that higher T was associated with less dysfunction and greater frequency. Moreover, there was a T threshold for the relationship between total T, sexual function, and erectile dysfunction. At T concentrations of 8 nmol/liter or less, T was associated with worse sexual functioning, whereas at T levels over 8 nmol/liter, the relationship came to a plateau. Conclusions: These findings suggest that different hormonal mechanisms may regulate sexual functioning (T) vs. the psychological aspects (E2) of male sexual behavior. Moreover, there was a T threshold for overall sexual function such that at levels greater than 8 nmol/liter the relationship between T and sexual function did not become stronger.}}, author = {{O'Connor, Daryl B and Lee, David M and Corona, Giovanni and Forti, Gianni and Tajar, Abdelouahid and O'Neill, Terence W and Pendleton, Neil and Bartfai, Gyorgy and Boonen, Steven and Casanueva, Felipe F and Finn, Joseph D and Giwercman, Aleksander and Han, Thang S and Huhtaniemi, Ilpo T and Kula, Krzysztof and Labrie, Fernand and Lean, Michael E J and Punab, Margus and Silman, Alan J and Vanderschueren, Dirk and Wu, Frederick C W}}, issn = {{1945-7197}}, language = {{eng}}, pages = {{1577--1587}}, publisher = {{Oxford University Press}}, series = {{The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism}}, title = {{The Relationships between Sex Hormones and Sexual Function in Middle-Aged and Older European Men.}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-2216}}, doi = {{10.1210/jc.2010-2216}}, volume = {{96}}, year = {{2011}}, }