Serum levels of total testosterone and the severity of erectile dysfunction

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to correlate the severity of erectile dysfunction [ED] with the total testosterone serum levels [TT], 208 men aged 40 to 80 years, were asked to answer the questionnaire of the Simplified International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF-5] as a method to diagnose and classify ED. The IIEF-5 scores ranged from 1 to 25 and the ED was classified into five groups according to the score severe [1-7], moderate [8-11], mild - moderate [12-16], mild [17-21], and no ED [22-25]. Also, all subjects had their TT serum levels determined based on the blood sample obtained between 0800 and 1000. The analysis of the relationship between the different degrees of ED and TT levels were then studied. The prevalence of all degrees of ED was 49.0 percent. The degree of ED was mild in 15.38 percent, mild to moderate in 13.46 percent, moderate in 6.25 percent and severe in 13.94 percent. The variation of TT serum concentrations was similar [P > 0.05] in the different age groups. Furthermore, the TT serum levels were not different for individuals with and without ED [P > 0.05] and similar concentrations of TT was observed in different severity degrees of ED [P > 0.05]. ED presented a clear association with the subjects' aging, but neither correlation between TT levels and ED, nor with its severity, could be demonstrated in the present study