Statins are associated with erectile dysfunction

This study was published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice 2006 Feb;60(2):141-5

 

Study title and authors:

Erectile dysfunction and statin treatment in high cardiovascular risk patients.

Solomon H, Samarasinghe YP, Feher MD, Man J, Rivas-Toro H, Lumb PJ, Wierzbicki AS, Jackson G.

Department of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Centre, St. Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London, UK.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16451283

This study investigated the relationship between statins and erectile dysfunction.  In this study, International Index of Erectile Function (a measure of erectile functioning, where higher scores indicate better functioning) scores were measured in 93 men attending cardiovascular risk clinics.

The study found:
(a) Prior to statin therapy, the average International Index of Erectile Function score was 21.
(b) After statin therapy, International Index of Erectile Function scores were reduced to 6.5.
(c) After statin therapy 22% of the men experienced new onset erectile dysfunction.

This study reveals that statins are associated with erectile dysfunction.

Review finds that statins and fibrates may cause erectile dysfunction

This paper was published in Family Practice 2002 Feb;19(1):95-8

 

Study title and authors:

Do lipid-lowering drugs cause erectile dysfunction? A systematic review.

Rizvi K, Hampson JP, Harvey JN.

University of Wales College of Medicine, Wrexham Academic Unit, Wrexham, UK.

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11818357

The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between cholesterol lowering drugs and erectile dysfunction. To achieve this aim a systematic review of the scientific literature was carried.

The review found:
(a) Information from review articles, clinical trials and from regulatory agencies identified fibrates as a source of erectile dysfunction.
(b) A substantial number of cases of erectile dysfunction associated with statin usage have been reported to regulatory agencies.
(c) Case reports and clinical trial evidence supported the suggestion that statins can also cause erectile dysfunction.

The review suggests that both statins and fibrates may cause erectile dysfunction.

Statins increase the risk of erectile dysfunction by 51%

This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics 1996 Apr;21(2):89-94.

Study title and authors:
Men treated with hypolipidaemic drugs complain more frequently of erectile dysfunction.

Bruckert E, Giral P, Heshmati HM, Turpin G.
Service d'Endocrinologie-Métabolisme, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8809645

The objective of this study was to assess whether there is an association between impotence and treatment with cholesterol lowering drugs. The study included 339 men taking cholesterol lowering drugs and 339 controls.

The study found:
(a) Men taking statins had a 51% increased risk of erectile dysfunction compared to men not taking cholesterol lowering drugs.
(b) Men taking fibrates had a 46% increased risk of erectile dysfunction compared to men not taking cholesterol lowering drugs.

The results from the study show that men taking cholesterol lowering drugs have an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.

Statins are associated with erectile dysfunction

This study was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine 2010 Apr;7(4 Pt 1):1547-56

Study title and authors:
The effect of statin therapy on testosterone levels in subjects consulting for erectile dysfunction.

Corona G, Boddi V, Balercia G, Rastrelli G, De Vita G, Sforza A, Forti G, Mannucci E, Maggi M.
Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence Italy.

This post can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20141585

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between statin therapy and erectile dysfunction. The study included 3,484 patients with erectile dysfunction, average age 51.6 years.

The study found:
(a) Both total and calculated free testosterone levels were significantly lower in subjects taking statins.
(b) Statin use was associated with a reduced testis volume.
(c) Statin use was associated with a higher prevalence of hypogonadism-related symptoms. (Hypogonadism is where the sex glands produce little or no hormones).

The data from the study reveals that statins are associated with erectile dysfunction.