Sexual dysfunction in subjects with Klinefelter’s syndrome

Abstract

While the association of Klinefelter's Syndrome (KS) with infertility is well-known, very few investigations have evaluated the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in KS. The aim of the present study was to systematically analyse the prevalence of KS in a consecutive series of adult male patients consulting for sexual problems and to investigate its specific correlates. Among a consecutive series of 1386 men (mean age 48.9 +/- 12.7 years old), 23 (1.7%) subjects with KS were found. Patients with KS were younger and more often hypogonadal when compared with the rest of the sample. Among patients with KS, five (22.7%) subjects reported severe erectile dysfunction, 14 (60.9%) hypoactive sexual desire (HSD), two (9.5%) premature and two (9.5%) delayed ejaculation. Only the association between KS and HSD was confirmed after adjustment for age [HR = 3.2 (1.37-7.5)], however, when patients with KS were compared with age, smoking habit, and testosterone matched controls, even the association between KS with HSD disappeared. In comparison to matched hypogonadal controls, subjects with KS had lower levels of education, a higher frequency of cryptorchidism and poorer pubertal progression. In conclusion, our results indicate that sexual dysfunction present in KS is not specifically associated with the syndrome but is caused by the underlying hypogonadal state. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of testosterone substitution in ameliorating the hypoactive sexual desire often reported in subjects with KS.

TRANSITION IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Management of Klinefelter syndrome during transition

“…Discordant data on sexual desire, and lower coital and orgasm frequency have been published. Besides erectile dysfunction, hypoactive sexual desire was the most frequent complaint in men with KS attending an outpatient clinic for sexual problems (85). In this study, sexual problems were, however, not more frequent when compared with a testosterone-matched control group, confirming that the low sexual desire in KS is not only related to the testosterone deficiency.…”

Obesity and Testosterone Levels in Ghanaian Men With Type 2 Diabetes

“…Others have shown a prevalence of 30-80% in men with type 2 diabetes. 9,22 This study also revealed that FBG contributes to lowering TT levels in men with type The association between glycemia and reduced TT concentrations may be an effect of glycemia on the testicular microvasculature. Thus, glycemia alters Ledig cell function, directly causing primary hypogonadism.…”

Male infertility: an obstacle to sexuality?

“…There was not a significant difference in the frequency of sexual function disturbances between the patients with KS and the control group. In the study by Corona et al (2010), 22.7% of KS patients reported severe ED, 60.9% hypoactive sexual desire (HSD), 9.5% premature ejaculation and 9.5% delayed ejaculation. However, adjusting for age, in a multiple logistic regression model, only a higher risk for HSD continued to be observed in KS subjects (Corona et al, 2010).…”

“…In the study by Corona et al (2010), 22.7% of KS patients reported severe ED, 60.9% hypoactive sexual desire (HSD), 9.5% premature ejaculation and 9.5% delayed ejaculation. However, adjusting for age, in a multiple logistic regression model, only a higher risk for HSD continued to be observed in KS subjects (Corona et al, 2010). The authors concluded that HSD, eventually present in the KS subjects, is more related to the testosterone deficiency than to the genetic abnormality.…”