Sex hormones disturbance as a cause of impotence in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]

ABSTRACT

Thirty six patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] associated with impotence were the subject of this study. The diagnosis and severity of the airflow limitation were assessed by measuring the ventilatory performance using a dry spirometer. Oxygen saturation was measured and arterial oxygen was deduced from it indirectly. Serum testosterone [total and free] and prolactin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Papaverine test was also utilized in all the patients. All the patients were heavy smokers. All the patients had moderate airway obstruction, however, this was not correlated with their hormonal levels. Impotence could be attributed to low total serum testosterone in 11.1% of patients only. The study concludes that the hormonal factor, as a cause for impotence associated with COPD, is probably less important than other factors e.g. psychogenic or vasculogenic disturbances