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The Relationships between Sex Hormones and Sexual Function in Middle-Aged and Older European Men.

O'Connor, Daryl B ; Lee, David M ; Corona, Giovanni ; Forti, Gianni ; Tajar, Abdelouahid ; O'Neill, Terence W ; Pendleton, Neil ; Bartfai, Gyorgy ; Boonen, Steven and Casanueva, Felipe F , et al. (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)
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organization
publishing date
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}},
}