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Erectile Dysfunction And Andropause Symptoms In Infertile Men

O’Brien JH, Lazarou S, Deane L, Keith Jarvi K, Zini A; J Urol. 2005;174,1932–1934.

KEY WORDS: andropause, hypogonadism, testosterone, questionnaires, infertility.

The signs and symptoms of andropause include weakness, fatigue, mood changes, osteopenia, decreased libido and erectile dysfunction (ED) and androgen deficiency may also be recognized clinically in a younger population of men. The same signs and symptoms of androgen deficiency occasionally occur in infertile men. Therefore, complete evaluation of the infertile male should include assessment of libido, erectile dysfunction, and the other signs and symptoms of androgen deficiency. This study in a total of 302 consecutive men presenting for infertility evaluation and 60 consecutive men with proven fertility seeking vasectomy (controls) evaluates the prevalence of andropause symptoms and erectile dysfunction in a men infertile population.

• Of total subjects 38% reported significant andropause symptoms and 28% had abnormal SHIM scores. Of the subgroup of infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia, 25% reported andropause symptoms and 27% had an abnormal SHIM score. In the fertile group 21% reported andropause symptoms and only 11% had an abnormal SHIM score. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in infertile men was significantly higher than in the fertile controls (p_0.007).
• Andropause symptoms and erectile dysfunction are common among infertile men, affecting approximately 38% of this population. This finding suggests that the population of infertile men should be carefully screened to identify and treat those with ED, because that population are at increased risk.

See the abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16217348&dopt=Abstract