Taking statins does not appear to increase the risk of gonadal or sexual dysfunction, according to a team of American researchers.
Past studies on statins have had mixed results. Some scientists have found associations between statin use and erectile dysfunction, reduced testosterone levels, and lower sex drive. But others have reported that statins improve endothelial function and increase nitric oxide. Both of these factors can improve erections. Statins may also decrease the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) because of their anti-inflammatory properties.
With these issues in mind, the researchers decided to study the matter retrospectively in a large group of patients.
The patients, who ranged in age from 30 to 85 years (mean age 53.7 years), were all enrolled in the San Antonio Tricare catchment area. The study was conducted in two phases. The first, considered a baseline period, took place from October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2005. The second, during which outcomes were determined, was conducted from October 1, 2005 to March 1, 2012.
The men were classified as statin users if they had filled a statin prescription for at least 90 days during fiscal year 2005. Nonusers did not receive a statin at any point during the two-phase study period.
Inclusion criteria were met by 20,731 patients. About 38% of the men were statin users; 62% were non-users.
Of this group, the researchers matched 3,302 statin users with 3,302 non-users for a propensity score-matched analysis of the following outcomes: BPH, erectile dysfunction (ED), infertility, testicular dysfunction, and psychosexual dysfunction. They also examined the results for all of these disorders taken together.
Over half of the men in this analysis had hypertension. Thirteen percent were obese and 13% had diabetes.
Overall, psychosexual dysfunction, BPH, and ED were the most common outcomes, affecting 37%, 32%, and 23% of the men respectively. Five percent of the men had testicular dysfunction and less than 1% were infertile.
In making their comparison, however, the researchers found no association between statin use and a higher or lower risk of BPH, ED, infertility, testicular dysfunction, or psychosexual dysfunction.
“The results of our study suggest that statins may not be beneficial for prevention of sexual dysfunction, nor do they increase the risk for such events,” the authors wrote.
The study was first published online in November in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Resources
HealthDay via Medical Xpress
“Statins not tied to male gonadal, sexual dysfunction”
(December 10, 2014)
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-12-statins-tied-male-gonadal-sexual.html
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Davis, Richard, MD, et al.
“Statins and Male Sexual Health: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis”
(Full-text. First published online: November 25, 2014)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsm.12745/full