Hypogonadism, Decreased Sexual Desire, and Long-Term Depression in Middle-Aged Men

Abstract

Introduction In middle-aged men, the associations between long-term depressive symptoms and circulating testosterone levels are poorly known, although it is known that testosterone levels decrease with age. Methods A health questionnaire was mailed to a population-based sample from the National Population Register in 1998, 1999, and 2001. Based on their self-reported mental symptoms, a total of 116 men were selected for clinical examination in 2005. Half of them had high and the others low levels of adverse mental symptoms in all three previous follow-ups. A structured clinical interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV was performed. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). The Aging Males’ Symptoms scale was also compiled and testosterone levels were determined. Results In the entire study sample, serum free testosterone levels correlated negatively with both BDI and HDRS scores. In the hypogonadism group (based on free testosterone, 19.8% of the sample), clinically significant depression (BDI score ≥ 13) was more than three times as frequent as in the other men (34.8% vs. 10.4%), the odds ratio after multiple adjustments being 4.98 (95% confidence interval 1.66–14.95). A decrease in sexual desire was common in hypogonadism (36%). Nevertheless, it also associated with clinically significant depression, irrespective of free testosterone levels. Discussion Long-term and current depressive symptoms, a decreased sexual desire, and low serum free testosterone levels are associated in middle-aged men. Hypogonadism per se and as a cause of decreased sexual desire may be a contributory and possibly treatable factor underlying male depression. Conclusions The findings highlight the need for hormonal status assessment in middle-aged depressive men.

Testosterone and Its Bioactive Components Are Associated with Libido and the Metabolic Syndrome in Men

“…The presence of hypogonadism among this study participants had a strong influence on the frequency with which they engaged in sexual activity as well as the rate at which they avoided sexual activity. This then support what has been established in other studies that hypogonadism is associated with male libido and sexual desire [29]. Since hypogonadism is strongly associated with both hypertriglyceridaemia as well as avoidance and infrequency of sexual activity, it is thus possible that hypogonadism could be the possible link between the MetS and SD.…”

Salivary Testosterone Is Consistently and Positively Associated with Extraversion: Results from The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety

“…In addition, previous findings have not been adjusted for diagnoses of depression or anxiety disorders. This seems to be highly relevant, as there is evidence of reduced testosterone levels in depression [23,24,25,26] and social anxiety [24], even though the exact relationship between low testosterone levels and major depression has yet to be proven [27]. Depression has also been shown to be associated with reduced extraversion [28].…”

Die antiandrogene Therapie aus urologischer Sicht

“…Wichtigster zerebraler, sexualspezifischer durch Testosteron gesteuerter Mechanismus ist die Ausbildung der sexuellen Erregung/Libido [1,4]. Peripher steuert Testosteron die Ausbildung der Geschlechtsorgane, die Funktion der Geschlechtsdrüsen (Prostata und Samenblasen), die Spermiogenese in den Hoden sowie die Entwicklung sekundärer männlicher Geschlechtsmerkmale.…”