Journal of Andrology Email Content Delivery
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Published-Ahead-of-Print April 17, 2008, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.108.005025

This Article
Right arrow Author Manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
29/5/514    most recent
Author Manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Canguven, O.
Right arrow Articles by Burnett, A. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Canguven, O.
Right arrow Articles by Burnett, A. L.

The Effect of 5 {alpha}-Reductase Inhibitors on Erectile Function

Onder Canguven * and Arthur L. Burnett

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ocanguv1{at}jhmi.edu.

Five {alpha}-reductase inhibitors, which inhibit conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, are used for miscellaneous clinical applications, including the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, male pattern hair loss, and possibly to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Erectile dysfunction has been associated with 5 {alpha}-reductase inhibitors. Overall reports in the literature suggest rates of erectile dysfunction to be between 0.8%-33% in men using these medications. However, randomized controlled studies report the rates of erectile dysfunction to be between 0.8%-15.8%. The possible risk association is that these medications impact on androgen function which is understood to contribute to normal erectile physiology. 5 {alpha}-reductase inhibitors result in a drop in median serum dihydrotestosterone levels by 60%-93% within 2 years, but there is no major change in testosterone levels. In this review, we surveyed studies on erectile dysfunction in patients treated with 5 {alpha}-reductase inhibitors and critically examined the evidence which associates 5 {alpha}-reductase inhibitors and erectile dysfunction. We conclude that 5 {alpha}-reductase inhibitors do not lead to erectile dysfunction to a significant degree and we support the position that dihydrotestosterone is less relevant than testosterone in erectile function.


Key words: Erectile Dysfunction • dihydrotestosterone • dutasteride • finasteride • testosterone






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Copyright © 2008 by The American Society of Andrology.