TY - JOUR
T1 - The relationships between sex hormones and sexual function in middle-aged and older European men
AU - O'Connor, Daryl B.
AU - Lee, David M.
AU - Corona, Giovanni
AU - Forti, Gianni
AU - Tajar, Abdelouahid
AU - O'Neill, Terence W.
AU - Pendleton, Neil
AU - Bartfai, Gyorgy
AU - Boonen, Steven
AU - Casanueva, Felipe F.
AU - Finn, Joseph D.
AU - Giwercman, Aleksander
AU - Han, Thang S.
AU - Huhtaniemi, Ilpo T.
AU - Kula, Krzysztof
AU - Labrie, Fernand
AU - Lean, Michael E J
AU - Punab, Margus
AU - Silman, Alan J.
AU - Vanderschueren, Dirk
AU - Wu, Frederick C W
AU - Petrone, Luisa
AU - Borghs, Herman
AU - Slowikowska-Hilczer, Jolanta
AU - Walczak-Jedrzejowska, Renata
AU - Steer, Philip
AU - Pye, Stephen
AU - Lage, Mary
AU - Földesi, Imre
AU - Fejes, Imre
AU - Korrovitz, Paul
AU - Jiang, Min
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - 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, therewas 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. Copyright © 2011 by The Endocrine Society.
AB - 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, therewas 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. Copyright © 2011 by The Endocrine Society.
U2 - 10.1210/jc.2010-2216
DO - 10.1210/jc.2010-2216
M3 - Article
C2 - 21849522
SN - 1945-7197
VL - 96
SP - E1577-E1587
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 10
ER -