Sexual Dysfunction in Diabetic Men

Abstract

Sexual function was studied in 175 diabetic male outpatients randomly selected. Data collected included medical and sexual histories, physical examination, complete blood count, urinalysis, T4, 12 channel chemistry screening profile and plasma testosterone determination. Eighty-five of the 175 men were impotent (49 per cent), four reported premature ejaculation (2 per cent) and two subjects had retrograde ejaculation (1 per cent). In the group with impotence, the mean age of the subjects and duration of diabetes were respectively fifty-three and six years. In patients without impotence, the comparable values were fortyfive and five years. Typically, the onset of impotence was gradual, usually progressing over a period of six months to a year with an interval during which firmness of erection was decreased. Levels of sexual interest were sustained in almost all subjects. Over 90 per cent of the males studied gave a pattern of impotence compatible with an organic rather than a psychologic etiology. Occurrence of impotence'was not definitely correlated with duration of diabetes or with insulin or oral agents. Incidence of peripheral neuropathy was increased in the group with sexual dysfunction. Plasma testosterone levels were within normal limits in impotent diabetics or in the group without impotence, respectively (mean ± S.E.M.) 627 ±15 and 637 ± 14 ng per cent. It is apparent from these findings that androgen deficiency was not an etiologic factor in this group of diabetic men with impotence.

Gonadal Hormones and Gonadal Function in Type 2 Diabetes Model OLETF (Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty) Rats

“…There are several reports, however, referring to psychogenic disturbances and organic disorders as the cause [17,18]. From an endocrinological point of view, there are reports that serum testosterone levels are lower in cases of diabetes associated with sexual dysfunction than in controls [19,20].…”

Erectile and endothelial dysfunction in Type II diabetes: a possible link

“…pharmacological factors [2]. There is a greater incidence of peripheral neuropathy [3], microangiopathy [4] and arterial insufficiency [5] in diabetic patients with ED than in potent diabetic men. Furthermore, diabetic patients could have other co-morbid conditions that are associated with ED without diabetes, such as renal failure, hypertension and chronic liver disease, thus the precise association of diabetes with ED could be circumstantial.…”

Retrograde ejaculation after retroperitoneal lower lumbar interbody fusion

“…Retrograde ejaculation is well recognised as a complication of major spinal cord injuries, diabetes mellitus and after prostatectomy [1,3,5,8,11,12,17,22], and is defined as the propulsion of seminal fluid from the posterior urethra into the bladder [12]. It is caused by lesions of the efferent adrenergic fibres of the sympathetic chain (T10-L3) which innervate the base of the bladder, preventing semen from entering during ejaculation (Fig.…”