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Barbagallo F, Cannarella R, Condorelli RA, Cucinella L, La Vignera S, Nappi RE, Calogero AE. Thyroid diseases and female sexual dysfunctions. Sex Med Rev 2024; 12:321-333. [PMID: 38600719 DOI: 10.1093/sxmrev/qeae021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Female sexual dysfunctions (FSDs) have received little attention in the context of thyroid diseases, despite the high prevalence of both conditions. OBJECTIVES This review aims to update and summarize the state of knowledge on the association between thyroid diseases and FSDs and to investigate the complex mechanisms through which thyroid hormone imbalance can impact female sexual health in the context of the biopsychosocial model. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was performed through the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases, using the following keywords: "female sexual function," "sexual dysfunction," "hypoactive sexual desire disorder," "thyroid disease," "thyroiditis," "hypothyroidism," and "hyperthyroidism." RESULTS To date, well-designed studies that describe the relationship between FSDs and thyroid disorders are lacking. However, despite the limitations on available studies, current data indicate that sexual alterations are frequently associated with thyroid diseases in women. A complex interplay of direct and indirect hormonal and nonhormonal mechanisms has been hypothesized, including hormonal changes, neurotransmitter imbalance, reduced nitric oxide release, mood disorders, and other systemic consequences of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormone receptors have also been identified in the genitourinary system. CONCLUSIONS In a clinical setting, physicians should investigate the sexuality of patients consulting for thyroid disease. At the same time, an evaluation of thyroid function should be performed in patients presenting with FSD, especially after menopause, when the risk of thyroid diseases and FSDs increases strongly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Barbagallo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Rossella Cannarella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Rosita A Condorelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Laura Cucinella
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 2700, Pavia, Italy
- Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Gynecological Endocrinology and Menopause, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, 2700, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sandro La Vignera
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Rossella E Nappi
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 2700, Pavia, Italy
- Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Gynecological Endocrinology and Menopause, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, 2700, Pavia, Italy
| | - Aldo E Calogero
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
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Lee S, Kim J, Kong H, Kim YS. Ameliorative effects of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) extract and extract-derived monosaccharide-amino acid on H2O2-induced decrease in testosterone-deficiency syndrome in a TM3 Leydig cell. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302403. [PMID: 38662754 PMCID: PMC11045058 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
With aging, men develop testosterone-deficiency syndrome (TDS). The development is closely associated with age-related mitochondrial dysfunction of Leydig cell and oxidative stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) is used to improve the symptoms of TDS. However, due to its various side effects, research on functional ingredients derived from natural products that do not have side effects is urgently needed. In this study, using the mitochondrial dysfunction TM3 (mouse Leydig) cells, in which testosterone biosynthesis is reduced by H2O2, we evaluated the effects of elderberry extract and monosaccharide-amino acid (fructose-leucine; FL) on mRNA and protein levels related to steroidogenesis-related enzymes steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 11A1(CYP11A1, cytochrome P450 17A1(CYP17A1), cytochrome P450 19A1(CYP19A1, aromatase), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(17β-HSD). We analyzed elderberry extract and extract-derived FL for changes in ROS scavenging activity and testosterone secretion. Elderberry extract and FL significantly reduced H2O2-induced intracellular ROS levels, improved testosterone secretion, and increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of steroidogenesis-related enzymes (StAR, 3b-HSD, 17b-HSD, CYP11A1, CYp17A1). However, the conversion of testosterone to estradiol was inhibited by elderberry extract and extract-derived FL, which reduced the mRNA and protein expression of CYP19A1. In conclusion, elderberry extract and FL are predicted to have value as novel functional ingredients that may contribute to the prevention of TDS by ameliorating reduced steroidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujung Lee
- Gochang Food & Industry Institute, Gochang, Korea
- Department of Food Science & Technology Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea
| | | | - Hyunseok Kong
- College of Animal Biotechnology and Resource, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea
- PADAM Natural Material Research Institute, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-Suk Kim
- Department of Food Science & Technology Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea
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Hammad MAM, Rush A, Loeb CA, Banton J, Abou Chawareb E, Khanmammadova N, Gevorkyan RR, Barham DW, Yafi FA, Jenkins LC. Multiple sclerosis and hypogonadism: is there a relationship? Sex Med Rev 2024; 12:178-182. [PMID: 38185910 DOI: 10.1093/sxmrev/qead050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system and is widely recognized as a disease primarily affecting women. The relationship between MS and hypogonadism is complex and not fully understood, with recent evidence showing that hypogonadism may have a significant impact on the quality of life and disease progression of patients with MS. OBJECTIVES This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge regarding the relationship between MS and hypogonadism, including the mechanisms underlying this relationship; the effects of hypogonadism on patients with MS; and the potential benefits and drawbacks of testosterone replacement therapy for patients with MS and hypogonadism. METHODS This scientific review analyzed 19 articles that investigated the potential relationship among MS, testosterone levels, and hypogonadism. The articles were published between November 2008 and March 2022 and were identified through a comprehensive search of the PubMed database. The search terms used included "multiple sclerosis," "testosterone," "hypogonadism," and "MS and testosterone levels." RESULTS Of the 19 articles reviewed, 11 described a positive correlation between low testosterone levels and dysfunction within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in individuals with MS. These findings suggest that low testosterone levels may contribute to dysfunction within the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, which plays a crucial role in regulating testosterone production. The results also showed a relationship between sexual dysfunction and low testosterone levels, as well as a positive correlative relationship between these factors. CONCLUSION The reviewed articles indicate a complex relationship among MS, testosterone levels, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, with low testosterone levels potentially contributing to dysfunction in this axis and to sexual dysfunction. Further research is needed to better understand the effects of testosterone therapy on MS and sexual dysfunction in patients with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed A M Hammad
- Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, United States
| | - Adriana Rush
- School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina, Greenville, SC 29605, United States
| | - Charles A Loeb
- Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, United States
| | - Jasmin Banton
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Jonesboro, Arkansas, NY 11545, United States
| | - Elia Abou Chawareb
- Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, United States
| | | | - Rafael R Gevorkyan
- Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, United States
| | - David W Barham
- Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, United States
| | - Faysal A Yafi
- Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, United States
| | - Lawrence C Jenkins
- Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, United States
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4
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Wojtas MN, Diaz-González M, Stavtseva N, Shoam Y, Verma P, Buberman A, Izhak I, Geva A, Basch R, Ouro A, Perez-Benitez L, Levy U, Borcel E, Nuñez Á, Venero C, Rotem-Dai N, Veksler-Lublinsky I, Knafo S. Interplay between hippocampal TACR3 and systemic testosterone in regulating anxiety-associated synaptic plasticity. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:686-703. [PMID: 38135756 PMCID: PMC11153148 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02361-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Tachykinin receptor 3 (TACR3) is a member of the tachykinin receptor family and falls within the rhodopsin subfamily. As a G protein-coupled receptor, it responds to neurokinin B (NKB), its high-affinity ligand. Dysfunctional TACR3 has been associated with pubertal failure and anxiety, yet the mechanisms underlying this remain unclear. Hence, we have investigated the relationship between TACR3 expression, anxiety, sex hormones, and synaptic plasticity in a rat model, which indicated that severe anxiety is linked to dampened TACR3 expression in the ventral hippocampus. TACR3 expression in female rats fluctuates during the estrous cycle, reflecting sensitivity to sex hormones. Indeed, in males, sexual development is associated with a substantial increase in hippocampal TACR3 expression, coinciding with elevated serum testosterone and a significant reduction in anxiety. TACR3 is predominantly expressed in the cell membrane, including the presynaptic compartment, and its modulation significantly influences synaptic activity. Inhibition of TACR3 activity provokes hyperactivation of CaMKII and enhanced AMPA receptor phosphorylation, associated with an increase in spine density. Using a multielectrode array, stronger cross-correlation of firing was evident among neurons following TACR3 inhibition, indicating enhanced connectivity. Deficient TACR3 activity in rats led to lower serum testosterone levels, as well as increased spine density and impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) in the dentate gyrus. Remarkably, aberrant expression of functional TACR3 in spines results in spine shrinkage and pruning, while expression of defective TACR3 increases spine density, size, and the magnitude of cross-correlation. The firing pattern in response to LTP induction was inadequate in neurons expressing defective TACR3, which could be rectified by treatment with testosterone. In conclusion, our study provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay between TACR3, sex hormones, anxiety, and synaptic plasticity. These findings highlight potential targets for therapeutic interventions to alleviate anxiety in individuals with TACR3 dysfunction and the implications of TACR3 in anxiety-related neural changes provide an avenue for future research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Natalia Wojtas
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Departamento Biología Celular e Histología Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Marta Diaz-González
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Nadezhda Stavtseva
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yuval Shoam
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Poonam Verma
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Assaf Buberman
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Inbar Izhak
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Aria Geva
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Roi Basch
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Alberto Ouro
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- NeuroAging Group Laboratory (NEURAL), Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory (LINC), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucia Perez-Benitez
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Departamento Biología Celular e Histología Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Uri Levy
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Erika Borcel
- Department of Psychobiology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ángel Nuñez
- Departamento de Anatomía, Histología y Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cesar Venero
- Department of Psychobiology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Noa Rotem-Dai
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Isana Veksler-Lublinsky
- Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Shira Knafo
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, and the School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Departamento Biología Celular e Histología Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48013, Spain.
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Fotinos K, Sansone A, Greifenberger A, Katzman MA, Jannini TB, Reisman Y, Limoncin E, Jannini EA. Pornography and sexual function in the post-pandemic period: a narrative review from psychological, psychiatric, and sexological perspectives. Int J Impot Res 2024:10.1038/s41443-023-00812-3. [PMID: 38184709 DOI: 10.1038/s41443-023-00812-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns had significant impacts on sexual functioning and behavior. Partnered sexual activity decreased overall, while solo sex activities such as masturbation and pornography consumption increased exponentially. Given the ongoing debate about the effects of pornography on sexual function, it was prudent to consider how the increase in porn consumption during the pandemic might have impacted sexual function in the post-pandemic period. Results indicated that despite the increased rates of use during lockdowns, there remains no evidence supporting the relationship between sexual dysfunction and porn use during and following the pandemic period. On the contrary, pornography consumption and solo sex activities offered an alternative to conventional sexual behavior during a highly stressful period and were found to have positive effects of relieving psychosocial stress otherwise induced by the pandemic. Specifically, those who maintained an active sexual life experienced less anxiety and depression, and greater relational health than those who were not sexually active. It is important to consider factors including frequency, context, and type of consumption when analyzing the impact of pornography on sexual function. While excessive use can have negative effects, moderate use can be a natural and healthy part of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Fotinos
- Course of Clinical Psychosexology, Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Stress Trauma Anxiety Rehabilitation Treatment (S.T.A.R.T.) Clinic for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrea Sansone
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alexandria Greifenberger
- Stress Trauma Anxiety Rehabilitation Treatment (S.T.A.R.T.) Clinic for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Martin A Katzman
- Stress Trauma Anxiety Rehabilitation Treatment (S.T.A.R.T.) Clinic for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Adler Graduate Professional School, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Tommaso B Jannini
- School of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Erika Limoncin
- Course of Clinical Psychosexology, Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Emmanuele A Jannini
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Rozenberg S, Nappi RE, Schaudig K, Jannini EA, Giraldi AGE. Couplepause: deconstructing sick menopause and andropause during midlife. J Sex Med 2023; 20:1270-1273. [PMID: 37932239 DOI: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdad113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Serge Rozenberg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHU St Pierre, Université libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Rossella E Nappi
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic, and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Gynecological Endocrinology and Menopause, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Katrin Schaudig
- Hormone Hamburg Gynecological Endocrinology, German Menopause Society, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Annamaria G E Giraldi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, 1353, Denmark
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Naz MSG, Rahnemaei FA, Tehrani FR, Sayehmiri F, Ghasemi V, Banaei M, Ozgoli G. Possible cognition changes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a narrative review. Obstet Gynecol Sci 2023; 66:347-363. [PMID: 37376796 PMCID: PMC10514592 DOI: 10.5468/ogs.22165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cognitive dysfunction are major health problems among female. This narrative review aimed to investigate cognitive dysfunction in female with PCOS. English and Persian articles published in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, Scientific Information Database, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews until May 2022 were searched. Sixteen studies involving 850 female with PCOS and 974 controls were assessed. In these studies, the association between biochemical factors and symptoms of PCOS and memory, attention, executive functioning, information processing speed, and visuospatial skills was evaluated. The literature review revealed the possible cognitive changes in female with PCOS. This study summarized the different aspects of cognitive function in female with PCOS due to medication, psychological problems (mood disorders caused by disease symptoms and complications), and biochemical markers, such as metabolic and sex hormone abnormalities. Considering the existing scientific gap regarding the possibility of cognitive complications in female with PCOS, further biological studies should be conducted to evaluate the potential mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Saei Ghare Naz
- Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,
Iran
| | - Fatemeh Alsadat Rahnemaei
- Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Al-zahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht,
Iran
| | - Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani
- Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,
Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sayehmiri
- Skull Base Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,
Iran
| | - Vida Ghasemi
- Department of Nursing, Asadabad School of Medical Sciences, Asadabad,
Iran
| | - Mojdeh Banaei
- Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas,
Iran
| | - Giti Ozgoli
- Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,
Iran
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Kleshchev MA, Osadchuk AV, Osadchuk LV. Peculiarities of Agonistic and Marking Behavior in Male Laboratory Mice (Mus musculuc) of Different Inbred Strains during the Formation of Social Hierarchy. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022090151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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9
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Sansone A, Jannini TB, Dolci S, Jannini EA. Castration and emasculation in the middle age. The andrological conundrum of Peter Abelard. Andrology 2022; 10:825-836. [PMID: 35355434 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
: Peter Abelard (1079 - 1142) is still considered one of the giants of philosophy, theology, and psychology, and the unsurpassed master of dialectical debate. Born in Le Pallet, near Nantes, Abelard became an academic and wandering cleric of great fame, founder of several schools that attracted students from all countries, arousing the admiration of his contemporaries and the profound envy of his colleagues. Around 1115, Abelard became master of the school of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. Shortly after, the canon Fulbert asked him to take his niece, the equally famous and highly cultured Héloïse d'Argenteuil (1092 ? - 1164), as a pupil. Thus a relationship began, celebrated for centuries to come, characterized by burning sexual and intellectual passion, famous correspondence which will be the archetype of sentimental education and the template of romantic love letters, the birth of a son and consequent marriage, and the cowardly revenge of Fulbert, who, together with a band of servants, mutilated<<those parts of my body with which I had done what was the cause of their pain>>, as Abelard wrote. While this unclear self-description has suggested to contemporaries and to posterity that Abelard was castrated, we aim to question this belief by analyzing in-depth this historical-andrological clinical case to understand if there is any evidence that could suggest that Abelard was instead the victim of an even more brutal punishment: penectomy. Signs and symptoms gleaned from the personal writings and historical perspectives of Abelard and his time are used here to provide a possible answer to a thousand-year-old question: what makes a man … a man? This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Sansone
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Tommaso B Jannini
- School of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Susanna Dolci
- Chair of Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata
| | - Emmanuele A Jannini
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
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10
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Neurochemical and Hormonal Contributors to Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40429-021-00403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose of Review
Compulsive sexual behavior disorder has been recently included in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), and the possible contribution of neurochemical and hormonal factors have been reported. However, relatively little is known concerning the neurobiology underlying this disorder. The aim of this article is to review and discuss published findings in the area.
Recent Findings
Evidence suggests that the neuroendocrine systems are involved in the pathophysiology of compulsive sexual behavior. The hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis, the hypothalamus-pituitary–gonadal axis, and the oxytocinergic system have been implicated.
Summary
Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact involvement of neuroendocrine and hormonal systems in compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Prospective longitudinal studies are particularly needed, especially those considering co-occurring psychiatric disorders and obtaining hormonal assessments in experimental circumstances with appropriate control groups.
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11
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Andersen ML, Tufik S. The Association Between Sleep Disturbances and Erectile Dysfunction During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sex Med Rev 2021; 10:263-270. [PMID: 35042659 PMCID: PMC8677465 DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is increasing concern about the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on mental and physical health. Among the many possible outcomes of COVID-19, reports of sleep disturbances, and erectile dysfunction are becoming prevalent worldwide. OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate the recent literature on this subject to produce a narrative review of the topic. METHODS We performed an extensive literature search to identify recent scientific findings on this subject. RESULTS To date, the precise mechanisms that trigger pandemic related sexual dysfunction are not completely understood, although it has been suggested that psychogenic effects play an important role, in addition to the direct effects of the disease itself on those infected. There is evidence that the stress induced by the pandemic has had a significant impact on sleep, and sleep disturbances are known to induce erectile dysfunction. Other mechanisms which trigger this phenomenon, such as hormonal changes and previous health conditions, have been suggested to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and these factors may have a potential link to sleep disturbance. CONCLUSION The combined effect of COVID-19 and the psychogenic disorders triggered by isolation, grief, and anxiety might be associated with the increased prevalence of erectile dysfunction. This feature might be worsened by the onset of pre-existing or pandemic-induced sleep disorders. However, few studies explored this subject. Understanding this phenomenon is important for the strategic planning of treatments that could improve the quality of life of the population. Andersen ML, Tufik S. The Association Between Sleep Disturbances and Erectile Dysfunction During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sex Med Rev 2021;XX:XXX-XXX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Levy Andersen
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Sergio Tufik
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil
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12
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Sonnweber R, Stevens JMG, Hohmann G, Deschner T, Behringer V. Blood testosterone levels in sickness and in health: Male chimpanzee testosterone levels decrease in face of an immune challenge. Am J Primatol 2021; 84:e23334. [PMID: 34662432 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
As an integral part of the immune response, testosterone secretion is inhibited when an individual is confronted with an immune challenge. Testosterone-mediated physiological, morphological, and behavioral traits are compromised at times of impaired health. Nevertheless, males of some species seem to maintain high levels of testosterone when confronted with an immune challenge, upholding competitive strength but compromising their immune response. It has been argued that this phenomenon will occur only in species living in social systems with high degrees of male-male competition over mating opportunities. Male chimpanzees contest over access to fertile females and dominants sire the majority of offspring. This male mating pattern makes chimpanzees a candidate species where we could expect males to maintain high testosterone levels, compromising their immune response, to ensure immediate reproductive success. We measured blood testosterone levels in male and female chimpanzees, who expressed clinical symptoms (symptomatic) or showed no evidence of clinical disease on assessment (asymptomatic). For females, we expected to find lower testosterone levels in symptomatic individuals than in asymptomatic subjects. In males, we would predict lower testosterone levels in symptomatic individuals than in asymptomatic males, if the immune response leads to a decrease in testosterone secretion. Alternatively, males could have equal levels of testosterone when symptomatic and asymptomatic, upholding competitive strength. Our results show that male chimpanzees exhibit lower levels of testosterone when confronted with an immune challenge than when being asymptomatic. This suggests that male testosterone secretion is suppressed as part of the immune response, which potentially increases survival and lifetime reproductive success. It will, however, negatively impact momentary competitive ability. Also, males may employ different mating strategies, some of which are less testosterone-driven (e.g., affiliative strategies). Consequently, in some individuals, the costs of maintaining high testosterone levels may not outweigh the potential gain in reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Sonnweber
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeroen M G Stevens
- Department of Biology, Behavioral Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.,SALTO, Agro- and Biotechnology, Odisee University College, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gottfried Hohmann
- Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Interim Group Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Verena Behringer
- Interim Group Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
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13
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Mollaioli D, Sansone A, Ciocca G, Limoncin E, Colonnello E, Di Lorenzo G, Jannini EA. Benefits of Sexual Activity on Psychological, Relational, and Sexual Health During the COVID-19 Breakout. J Sex Med 2021; 18:35-49. [PMID: 33234430 PMCID: PMC7584428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19-related lockdown has profoundly changed human behaviors and habits, impairing general and psychological well-being. Along with psychosocial consequences, it is possible that sexual behavior was also affected. AIMS With the present study, we evaluated the impact of the community-wide containment and consequent social distancing on the intrapsychic, relational, and sexual health through standardized psychometric tools. METHODS A case-control study was performed through a web-based survey and comparing subjects of both genders with (group A, N = 2,608) and without (group B, N = 4,213) sexual activity during lockdown. The Welch and chi-square tests were used to assess differences between groups. Univariate analysis of covariance, logistic regression models, and structural equation modeling were performed to measure influence and mediation effects of sexual activity on psychological, relational, and sexual outcomes. OUTCOMES Main outcome measures were General Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, Dyadic Adjustment Scale for quality of relationship and a set of well-validated sexological inventories (International Index of Erectile Function, Female Sexual Function Index, and male-female versions of the Orgasmometer). RESULTS Anxiety and depression scores were significantly lower in subjects sexually active during lockdown. Analysis of covariance identified gender, sexual activity, and living without partner during lockdown as significantly affecting anxiety and depression scores (P < .0001). Logistic regression models showed that lack of sexual activity during lockdown was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing anxiety and depression (OR: 1.32 [95% CI: 1.12 - 1.57, P < .001] and 1.34 [95% CI: 1.15 - 1.57, P < .0001], respectively). Structural equation modeling evidenced the protective role of sexual activity toward psychological distress (βmales = -0.18 and βfemales = -0.14), relational health (βmales = 0.26 and βfemales = 0.29) and sexual health, both directly (βmales = 0.43 and βfemales = 0.31), and indirectly (βmales = 0.13 and βfemales = 0.13). CLINICAL TRANSLATION The demonstrated mutual influence of sexual health on psychological and relational health could direct the clinical community toward a reinterpretation of the relationship among these factors. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS Based on a large number of subjects and well-validated psychometric tools, this study elucidated the protective role of sexual activity for psychological distress, as well for relational and sexual health. Main limitations were the web-based characteristics of the protocol and the retrospective nature of prelockdown data on psychorelational and sexual health of subjects recruited. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 lockdown dramatically impacted on psychological, relational, and sexual health of the population. In this scenario, sexual activity played a protective effect, in both genders, on the quarantine-related plague of anxiety and mood disorders. Mollaioli D, Sansone A, Ciocca G, et al. Benefits of Sexual Activity on Psychological, Relational, and Sexual Health During the COVID-19 Breakout. J Sex Med 2021;18:35-49.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Mollaioli
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sansone
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Ciocca
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Limoncin
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Colonnello
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Di Lorenzo
- Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Emmanuele A Jannini
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
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14
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Titkova AM, Berchenko OG, Veselovska OV, Shliakhova AV. Features of neurosteroid support of the state of alcohol dependence and its correction with dosed physical load in rats. REGULATORY MECHANISMS IN BIOSYSTEMS 2020. [DOI: 10.15421/022084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of steroid hormones in regulation of the functions of the emotiogenic limbic-neocortical system has been actively studied over the recent decades in order to determine their synthesis in the brain structures and role in the development and maintenance of dependence on psychoactive substances. However, the wide range of neurosteroids and their metabolites, as well as structural specific features of the synthesis of both neurohormones and their receptors make it difficult to obtain experimental data and interpret the results of the study. The participation of progesterone, cortisol, testosterone and estradiol in the development of alcohol dependence and the changes in their concentrations in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala and serum under the influence of dosed physical load were studied in 48 outbred adult male rats. Alcohol dependence was modeled by means of consuming food containing alcohol in the dose of 1.25 g of ethanol per 1 kg of rat body weight for two months. Dosed physical load was reproduced by a rat running in a wheel for 30 minutes daily for 7–10 days against the background of alcohol withdrawal. Neuroethological testing of craving for alcohol, EEG recording of the neocortex, hippocampus and amygdala was performed using a computer-diagnostic complex. The concentration of steroid hormones was determined in the structures of the brain and blood serum by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was shown that dosed physical load attenuated the alcohol motivation of rats. On the 5th day it suppressed the electrographic manifestations of paroxysmal activity in the hippocampus and increased the level of the theta-rhythm in the amygdala, and on the 7th day it activated the neocortex with increasing beta-rhythm. This effect was accompanied by an increase in serum testosterone level against the background of maintaining functional tension of the peripheral glucocorticoid link of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system, which was observed in a state of alcohol dependence. The study demonstrated that progesterone plays the key role in allostatic rearrangements of the functional state of animals. An imbalance of progesterone levels was revealed in the brain structures: an increase – in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, and a decrease – in the amygdala under alcohol dependence; a decrease – in the hippocampus with recovery in the amygdala against the background of its high level in the hypothalamus, which occurs under the influence of dosed physical load on the rats under alcohol withdrawal. Thus, the dosed physical load is a promising approach to alcohol dependence rehabilitation.
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15
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Corona G, Sansone A, Pallotti F, Ferlin A, Pivonello R, Isidori AM, Maggi M, Jannini EA. People smoke for nicotine, but lose sexual and reproductive health for tar: a narrative review on the effect of cigarette smoking on male sexuality and reproduction. J Endocrinol Invest 2020; 43:1391-1408. [PMID: 32323225 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-020-01257-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To systematically review the impact of smoking habits on cardiovascular (CV) as well as on male sexual and reproductive function and to provide updated evidence on the role of electronic cigarettes (e-Cig) on the same topics. METHODS A comprehensive Medline, Embase, and Cochrane search was performed including the following words: smoking, CV system, CV risk, erectile dysfunction (ED), and male fertility. Publications from January 1, 1969 up to February 29, 2020 were included. RESULTS Smoking has a tremendous negative impact on CV mortality and morbidity. Current smoking behavior is also negatively associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) and impaired sperm parameters. E-Cig can release significantly lower concentrations of harmful substances when compared to regular combustible cigarettes. Whether or not the latter can result in positive CV, sexual, and fertility outcomes is still under study. Preliminary studies showed that exposure to e-Cig leads to lower vascular damage when compared to the traditional cigarette use. However, data on the long-term effects of e-Cig are lacking. Similarly, preliminary data, obtained in animal models, have suggested a milder effect of e-Cig on erectile function and sperm parameters. CONCLUSION Available evidence showed that e-Cig are much less dangerous when compared to the traditional tobacco use. However, it should be recognized that the risk related to e-Cig is still higher when compared to that observed in non-smoking patients. Hence, e-Cig should be considered as a potential tool, in the logic of harm reduction, to reduce the CV, sexual and fertility risk in patients refractory to the fundamental, healthy choice to definitively quit smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Corona
- Medical Department, Endocrinology Unit, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Azienda-Usl Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - A Sansone
- Chair of Endocrinology & Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - F Pallotti
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - A Ferlin
- Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - R Pivonello
- Division of Endocrinology, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - A M Isidori
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - M Maggi
- Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Endocrinology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - E A Jannini
- Chair of Endocrinology & Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
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16
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Corona G, Guaraldi F, Rastrelli G, Sforza A, Maggi M. Testosterone Deficiency and Risk of Cognitive Disorders in Aging Males. World J Mens Health 2020; 39:9-18. [PMID: 32378366 PMCID: PMC7752509 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.200017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment and dementia are predicted to undergo a dramatic increase in the following years with more than 131.5 million people being affected by 2030. Although vascular diseases play the most important role in the pathogenesis of memory impairment in aging men, some pre-clinical and clinical evidence has suggested a possible contribution of the age-dependent reduction of testosterone (T). In this paper we have summarized and discussed all the information derived from available animal and experimental studies. In addition, we meta-analyzed data rising from all randomized placebo controlled trials (RCTs) published so far. Only limited preclinical and clinical evidence can support a possible contribution of T in the pathogenesis of the age-dependent impairment of cognitive functions. In addition, our meta-analysis did not support the use of T replacement therapy for the improvement of several cognitive domains analyzed including attention/working memory, executive function, language, verbal memory, visual memory, visuomotor ability, and visuospatial ability. However, it is important to recognize that the vast majority of available RCTs included mixed populations of subjects with eugonadism and hypogonadism preventing any final conclusion being drawn on these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Corona
- Endocrinology Unit, Medical Department, Azienda Usl, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Federica Guaraldi
- Pituitary Unit, IRCCS Institute of Neurological Science of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Rastrelli
- Andrology, Female Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Sforza
- Endocrinology Unit, Medical Department, Azienda Usl, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mario Maggi
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Chatzittofis A, Boström AE, Öberg KG, Flanagan JN, Schiöth HB, Arver S, Jokinen J. Normal Testosterone but Higher Luteinizing Hormone Plasma Levels in Men With Hypersexual Disorder. Sex Med 2020; 8:243-250. [PMID: 32173350 PMCID: PMC7261685 DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hypersexual disorder as suggested to be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 integrates aspects of sexual desire deregulation, impulsivity, and compulsivity. However, it is unknown how it affects gonadal activity and the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. AIM The aim of this study was to investigate testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in hypersexual men compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, we investigated associations between epigenetic markers and hormone levels. METHODS Basal morning plasma levels of testosterone, LH, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were assessed in 67 hypersexual men (mean age: 39.2 years) compared with 39 age-matched healthy controls (mean age: 37.5 years). The Sexual Compulsivity Scale and the Hypersexual Disorder: Current Assessment Scale were used for assessing hypersexual behavior, the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Scale-self rating was used for depression severity, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was used for assessing history of childhood adversity. The genome-wide methylation pattern of more than 850 K CpG sites was measured in whole blood using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip. CpG sites located within 2,000 bp of the transcriptional start site of hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) and HPG axis-coupled genes were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Testosterone and LH plasma levels in association with clinical rating and a secondary outcome was the epigenetic profile of HPA and HPG axis-coupled CpG sites with testosterone and LH levels. RESULTS LH plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with hypersexual disorder than in healthy volunteers. No significant differences in plasma testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, and SHBG levels were found between the groups. There were no significant associations between DNA methylation of HPA and HPG axis-coupled genes and plasma testosterone or LH levels after multiple testing corrections. CONCLUSIONS Subtle dysregulation of the HPG axis, with increased LH plasma levels but no difference in testosterone levels may be present in hypersexual men. Chatzittofis A, Boström AE, Öberg KG, et al. Normal Testosterone but Higher Luteinizing Hormone Plasma Levels in Men With Hypersexual Disorder. Sex Med 2020;8:243-250.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Chatzittofis
- Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | | | - Katarina Görts Öberg
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden
| | - John N Flanagan
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Stefan Arver
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Jussi Jokinen
- Department of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Anto-Ocrah M, Tiffany K, Hasman L, van Wijngaarden E. Mild traumatic brain injury/concussion and female sexuality, a scoping review of the literature. Inj Epidemiol 2020; 7:7. [PMID: 32127044 PMCID: PMC7050144 DOI: 10.1186/s40621-020-0232-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) in 2010 called for more head injury research on gender disparities to bridge the gender gap for the short-and long-term effects of TBI, including sexual and reproductive outcomes. In this paper, we review the state of the literature before and after the ACRM announcement, and evaluate how research teams have considered females and mildly injured TBI(mTBI)/concussion groups in post-TBI-related changes in sexual functioning. Methods The research question for this scoping review was “what is the state of the literature in the evaluation of post-TBI sexual changes for women, and individuals with mTBI?” Using the 2010 ACRM call for action as a line of demarcation, we compared our findings before and after the 2010 announcement. Results We identified 9 research studies that addressed sexual functioning changes in females and mTBI/concussion groups. Four of the nine were published before the 2010 ACRM announcement, and five were published after. The representation of female research participants increased steadily over the 28-year timespan. The proportion of individuals with mTBI included in the post-2010 era was higher than the earlier time period. Consistently, women with mTBI reported more adverse sexual outcomes compared to male cohorts, orthopaedic, and non-injured comparison groups. This observation persisted regardless of recruitment site (rehabilitation center/Emergency Department (ED)/Community) or time of outcome assessment (acute versus chronic). The findings also remained despite the heterogeneity of survey questionnaires used to evaluate sexual functioning outcomes. Excluding the most recent 2019 study, none of the research groups compared the findings by TBI severity, making it difficult to fully understand how concussion-related sexual changes compare to more severe forms of the head injury. The long term impacts of the sexual changes, such as infertility and relationship discord were also absent across all studies; even though most evaluated outcomes chronically (some as far out as 20 years post injury). Conclusion The number of publications in the era before the ACRM call for action and afterwards were almost identical. In order to tailor interventions for the appropriate groups of TBI patients, more neurosexuality research is needed to increase awareness of the importance of sexuality as a health outcome for individuals with neurodisabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Anto-Ocrah
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA. .,Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA.
| | | | - Linda Hasman
- Miner Library, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
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Christiansen AR, Lipshultz LI, Hotaling JM, Pastuszak AW. Selective androgen receptor modulators: the future of androgen therapy? Transl Androl Urol 2020; 9:S135-S148. [PMID: 32257854 PMCID: PMC7108998 DOI: 10.21037/tau.2019.11.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are small molecule drugs that function as either androgen receptor (AR) agonists or antagonists. Variability in AR regulatory proteins in target tissues permits SARMs to selectively elicit anabolic benefits while eschewing the pitfalls of traditional androgen therapy. SARMs have few side effects and excellent oral and transdermal bioavailability and may, therefore, represent viable alternatives to current androgen therapies. SARMs have been studied as possible therapies for many conditions, including osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer, stress urinary incontinence (SUI), prostate cancer (PCa), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), male contraception, hypogonadism, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and sarcopenia/muscle wasting/cancer cachexia. While there are no indications for SARMs currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many potential applications are still being explored, and results are promising. In this review, we examine the literature assessing the use of SARMS for a number of indications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Larry I Lipshultz
- Scott Department of Urology.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James M Hotaling
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Alexander W Pastuszak
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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20
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Sex Hormones as Cognitive Enhancers? JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s41465-019-00156-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding the differences in the way women and men think has made headway thanks to experiments showing how sex hormones influence cognitive capacities. Masculine and feminine sex hormones (androgens and estrogens, respectively) affect cognition in different ways and may account for some of the gender differences in cognitive abilities, allowing men and women to perform better in certain cognitive tests. In this opinion article, we discuss studies addressing differences in cognitive functions between males and females and the underlying neural substrates, as well as the effects of sex hormone supplementation. Even though some studies on patients receiving exogenous sex hormones showed gender differences that emerge at group levels on a few cognitive tasks, it is not yet clear whether these differences can be partially attributed to hormonal causes. Supplementation of female estrogen can enhance verbal skills, whereas masculine androgen can increase performance in mathematical and visuospatial tasks. Studies of the administration of exogenous sex hormones have allowed further insight into the use of sex hormones as possible cognitive enhancers.
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21
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Solomon ZJ, Mirabal JR, Mazur DJ, Kohn TP, Lipshultz LI, Pastuszak AW. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators: Current Knowledge and Clinical Applications. Sex Med Rev 2018; 7:84-94. [PMID: 30503797 DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) differentially bind to androgen receptors depending on each SARM's chemical structure. As a result, SARMs result in anabolic cellular activity while avoiding many of the side effects of currently available anabolic steroids. SARMs have been studied in the treatment of breast cancer and cachexia and have also been used as performance-enhancing agents. Here, we evaluate and summarize the current literature on SARMs. AIM To present the background, mechanisms, current and potential clinical applications, as well as risks and benefits of SARMs. METHODS A literature review was performed in MEDLINE using the terms selective androgen receptor modulator, hypogonadism, cachexia, breast cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, libido, and lean muscle mass. Both basic research and clinical studies were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE To complete a review of peer-reviewed literature. RESULTS Although there are currently no U.S. Food and Drug Agency-approved indications for SARMs, investigators are exploring the potential uses for these compounds. Basic research has focused on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of these agents, demonstrating good availability with a paucity of drug interactions. Early clinical studies have demonstrated potential uses for SARMs in the treatment of cancer-related cachexia, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), hypogonadism, and breast cancer, with positive results. CONCLUSION SARMs have numerous possible clinical applications, with promise for the safe use in the treatment of cachexia, BPH, hypogonadism, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Solomon ZJ, Mirabal JR, Mazur DJ, et al. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators: Current Knowledge and Clinical Applications. Sex Med Rev 2019;7:84-94.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Taylor P Kohn
- Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Larry I Lipshultz
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Urology Associates, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Alexander W Pastuszak
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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22
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Zhai L, Zhao J, Zhu Y, Liu Q, Niu W, Liu C, Wang Y. Downregulation of leptin receptor and kisspeptin/GPR54 in the murine hypothalamus contributes to male hypogonadism caused by high-fat diet-induced obesity. Endocrine 2018; 62:195-206. [PMID: 29948931 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-018-1646-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Obesity may lead to male hypogonadism, the underlying mechanism of which remains unclear. In the present study, we established a murine model of male hypogonadism caused by high-fat diet-induced obesity to verify the following hypotheses: 1) an increased leptin level may be related to decreased secretion of GnRH in obese males, and 2) repression of kisspeptin/GPR54 in the hypothalamus, which is associated with increased leptin levels, may account for the decreased secretion of GnRH and be involved in secondary hypogonadism (SH) in obese males. METHODS Male mice were fed high-fat diet for 19 weeks and divided by body weight gain into diet-induced obesity (DIO) and diet-induced obesity resistant (DIO-R) group. The effect of obesity on the reproductive organs in male mice was observed by measuring sperm count and spermatozoid motility, relative to testis and epididymis weight, testosterone levels, and pathologic changes. Leptin, testosterone, estrogen, and LH in serum were detected by ELISA method. Leptin receptor (Ob-R), Kiss1, GPR54, and GnRH mRNA were measured by real-time PCR in the hypothalamus. Expression of kisspeptin and Ob-R protein was determined by Western blotting. Expression of GnRH and GPR54 protein was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS We found that diet-induced obesity decreased spermatozoid motility, testis and epididymis relative coefficients, and plasma testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels. An increased number and volume of lipid droplets in Leydig cells were observed in the DIO group compared to the control group. Significantly, higher serum leptin levels were found in the DIO and DIO-R groups. The DIO and DIO-R groups showed significant downregulation of the GnRH, Kiss1, GPR54, and Ob-R genes. We also found decreased levels of GnRH, kisspeptin, GPR54, and Ob-R protein in the DIO and DIO-R groups. CONCLUSIONS These lines of evidence suggest that downregulation of Ob-R and kisspeptin/GPR54 in the murine hypothalamus may contribute to male hypogonadism caused by high-fat diet-induced obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Zhai
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yiming Zhu
- Seven-Year-program Clinical Medicine Students (100K71B), China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Qiannan Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wenhua Niu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chengyin Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Environment and Non-communicable Disease Research Center, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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23
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Cools M, Nordenström A, Robeva R, Hall J, Westerveld P, Flück C, Köhler B, Berra M, Springer A, Schweizer K, Pasterski V. Caring for individuals with a difference of sex development (DSD): a Consensus Statement. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2018; 14:415-429. [PMID: 29769693 PMCID: PMC7136158 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-018-0010-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The term differences of sex development (DSDs; also known as disorders of sex development) refers to a heterogeneous group of congenital conditions affecting human sex determination and differentiation. Several reports highlighting suboptimal physical and psychosexual outcomes in individuals who have a DSD led to a radical revision of nomenclature and management a decade ago. Whereas the resulting recommendations for holistic, multidisciplinary care seem to have been implemented rapidly in specialized paediatric services around the world, adolescents often experience difficulties in finding access to expert adult care and gradually or abruptly cease medical follow-up. Many adults with a DSD have health-related questions that remain unanswered owing to a lack of evidence pertaining to the natural evolution of the various conditions in later life stages. This Consensus Statement, developed by a European multidisciplinary group of experts, including patient representatives, summarizes evidence-based and experience-based recommendations for lifelong care and data collection in individuals with a DSD across ages and highlights clinical research priorities. By doing so, we hope to contribute to improving understanding and management of these conditions by involved medical professionals. In addition, we hope to give impetus to multicentre studies that will shed light on outcomes and comorbidities of DSD conditions across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Cools
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Anna Nordenström
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ralitsa Robeva
- Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University-Sofia, Medical Faculty, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | | | - Christa Flück
- Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Paediatrics and Department of Clinical Research, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Birgit Köhler
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Charité University Medicine, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marta Berra
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ramazzini Hospital, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Alexander Springer
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katinka Schweizer
- Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vickie Pasterski
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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24
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Mousavizadegan S, Maroufi M. Comparison of salivary testosterone levels in different phases of bipolar I disorder and control group. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES 2018; 23:31. [PMID: 29887899 PMCID: PMC5961281 DOI: 10.4103/jrms.jrms_1009_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Testosterone is considered as a primary sex hormone, also known as an important anabolic steroid, that may involve in various mental disorders such as bipolar I disorder (BID). The goal of this study was to compare the testosterone salivary levels between different phases of BID and its association with the clinical features of BID. Materials and Methods: In a case–control study, 15 patients in the mania phase, 10 patients in the depression phase, and 16 in the euthymia phase were selected as patient groups. 18 healthy sex- and age-matched individuals were considered as healthy control group. Salivary samples obtained from all patients and control group and levels of testosterone were determined in saliva using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All statistical calculations were conducted with the software Statistical Package for Social Science version 20 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The mean testosterone level in euthymia phase was 186.34 ± 182.62 pg/mL, mania phase was 239.29 ± 273.22 pg/mL, depression was 153.49 ± 222.50 pg/mL, and healthy participants was 155.73 ± 126.0 pg/mL; no significant difference was found between groups (P = 0.68.(No statistically significant differences were found between psychotic and nonpsychotic as well as between patients who attempted suicide and nonattempter patients in terms of testosterone levels (P > 0.1). Conclusion: Our findings do not reveal significant difference between different phases of BID in terms of salivary testosterone levels. However, more comprehensive studies with larger sample size are required to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabra Mousavizadegan
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Isfahan (khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohsen Maroufi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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25
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Carosa E, Lenzi A, Jannini EA. Thyroid hormone receptors and ligands, tissue distribution and sexual behavior. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 467:49-59. [PMID: 29175529 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Carosa
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrea Lenzi
- Chair of Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Emmanuele A Jannini
- Chair of Endocrinology & Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
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26
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Fisher AD, Ristori J, Morelli G, Maggi M. The molecular mechanisms of sexual orientation and gender identity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 467:3-13. [PMID: 28847741 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Differences between males and females are widely represented in nature. There are gender differences in phenotypes, personality traits, behaviors and interests, cognitive performance, and proneness to specific diseases. The most marked difference in humans is represented by sexual orientation and core gender identity, the origins of which are still controversial and far from being understood. Debates continue on whether sexual behavior and gender identity are a result of biological (nature) or cultural (nurture) factors, with biology possibly playing a major role. The main goal of this review is to summarize the studies available to date on the biological factors involved in the development of both sexual orientation and gender identity. A systematic search of published evidence was performed using Medline (from January 1948 to June 2017). Review of the relevant literature was based on authors' expertise. Indeed, different studies have documented the possible role and interaction of neuroanatomic, hormonal and genetic factors. The sexual dimorphic brain is considered the anatomical substrate of psychosexual development, on which genes and gonadal hormones may have a shaping effect. In particular, growing evidence shows that prenatal and pubertal sex hormones permanently affect human behavior. In addition, heritability studies have demonstrated a role of genetic components. However, a convincing candidate gene has not been identified. Future studies (e.i. genome wide studies) are needed to better clarify the complex interaction between genes, anatomy and hormonal influences on psychosexual development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra D Fisher
- Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Jiska Ristori
- Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Girolamo Morelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular and of the Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mario Maggi
- Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
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27
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Smith JB, Rosen J, Colbert A. Low Serum Testosterone in Outpatient Psychiatry Clinics: Addressing Challenges to the Screening and Treatment of Hypogonadism. Sex Med Rev 2018; 6:69-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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28
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Abstract
The relationships between sport and sexuality in males are of great social and clinical interest, because of sports and motor activities that highly promote social and sexual relationships. Even if few literature exist, two main questions should be taken into account: whether and how physical exercise and sport positively or negatively influence sexual health and behavior and/or whether and how sexual behavior may affect a sub-sequent sport performance. Physical exercise and sport per se can influence, positively or negatively, the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis function and, consequently, the individual's reproductive and/or sexual health. This depends on individual factors such as genetic and epigenetic ones and on different variables involved in the practice of sport activities (type of sport, intensity and duration of training, doping and drug use and abuse, nutrition, supplements, psychological stress, allostatic load, etc.). If well conducted, motor and sport activities could have beneficial effects on sexual health in males. Among different lifestyle changes, influencing sexual health, regular physical activity is fundamental to antagonize the onset of erectile dysfunction (ED). However, competitive sport can lead both reproductive and/or sexual tract damages and dysfunctions, transient (genital pain, hypoesthesia of the genitalia, hypogonadism, DE, altered sexual drive, etc.) or permanent (hypogonadism, DE, etc.), by acting directly (traumas of the external genitalia, saddle-related disorders in cyclists, etc.) or indirectly (exercise-related hypogonadism, drug abuse, doping, stress, etc.). Sexual activities shortly performed before a sport competition could differently influence sport performance. Due to the few existing data, it is advisable to avoid an absolute pre-competition sexual abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Sgrò
- Unit of Endocrinology, Section of Health Sciences, Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy
| | - L Di Luigi
- Unit of Endocrinology, Section of Health Sciences, Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
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29
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Csaba G. The Present and Future of Human Sexuality: Impact of Faulty Perinatal Hormonal Imprinting. Sex Med Rev 2017; 5:163-169. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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