Impact of androgen deficiency on sexual dysfunction

The identification of nitric oxide as the neurotransmitter involved in penile erection led to the introduction of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, which revolutionized the evaluation and management of erectile dysfunction. However, recent studies have indicated that erection is not simply a neurovascular phenomenon. Animal studies have suggested that testosterone promotes or regulates erectile function, and clinical studies on humans have corroborated this association. Administration of testosterone may ameliorate sexual dysfunction related to androgen deficiency, which is commonly associated with aging. High, but not universal, rates of sexual dysfunction among men with prostate cancer undergoing chemical castration suggest that the promotion of erections can occur even at very low levels of serum testosterone. Copyright © 2007 by Current Medicine Group LLC.