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. 2009 Jul-Aug;21(4):207-12.
doi: 10.1038/ijir.2009.14. Epub 2009 May 7.

The relationship of serum and salivary cortisol levels to male sexual dysfunction as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function

Y Kobori  1 , E Koh, K Sugimoto, K Izumi, K Narimoto, Y Maeda, H Konaka, A Mizokami, T Matsushita, T Iwamoto, M Namiki
Affiliations

The relationship of serum and salivary cortisol levels to male sexual dysfunction as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function

Y Kobori et al. Int J Impot Res. 2009 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

To evaluate the biomarkers of sexual function, we investigated the relationship between questionnaire responses and biological hormones such as testosterone (T) and cortisol (F) in serum and saliva. The study population included 105 men aged 30-72 years (mean: 49+/-4.5, median: 49). Levels of all serum hormones (Total-T, Free-T, Bioavailable-T, Total-F and Bioavailable-F) and salivary hormones (Saliva-T and Saliva-F) were measured directly by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was used as a questionnaire to evaluate sexual dysfunction. Free-T and Bioavailable-T showed significant inverse correlations with age (P<0.01). In the group not taking antidepressants, the levels of Bioavailable-F and Saliva-F showed significant inverse correlations with a portion of the IIEF score (P<0.05). However, reductions in Bioavailable-T and Saliva-T showed no association with the IIEF score. In the group taking antidepressants, these hormone levels showed no correlation with IIEF.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Free testosterone showed significant inverse correlations with age (n=103, R=−0.35, P<0.001). (b) On the other hand, bioavailable cortisol did not have a meaningful correlation with age (n=103, R=0.10, P=0.10).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Bioavailable testosterone did not show a meaningful correlation with the total score of IIEF (n=32, R=−0.01, P=0.98). (b) Bioavailable cortisol showed negative correlations with the total score of IIEF score (n=32, R=−0.43, P<0.05).
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