Urology
Volume 74, Issue 1 , Pages 82-87, July 2009

α-Blocker Use Is Associated With Decreased Risk of Sexual Dysfunction

  • Rajeev Kumar

      Affiliations

    • Department of Urology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
  • ,
  • Ajay Nehra

      Affiliations

    • Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Ajay Nehra, M.D., Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905
  • ,
  • Debra J. Jacobson

      Affiliations

    • Division of Biostatistics, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
  • ,
  • Michaela E. McGree

      Affiliations

    • Division of Biostatistics, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
  • ,
  • Naomi M. Gades

      Affiliations

    • Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
  • ,
  • Michael M. Lieber

      Affiliations

    • Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
  • ,
  • Steven J. Jacobsen

      Affiliations

    • Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Pasadena, California
  • ,
  • Jennifer L. St. Sauver

      Affiliations

    • Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota

Received 18 August 2008; accepted 18 December 2008. published online 11 May 2009.

Objectives

To examine the association between α-blocker use and sexual dysfunction among men participating in a population-based cohort of men residing in Olmsted County, MN. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men have previously been associated with sexual dysfunction. The use of α-adrenergic receptor blocking agents results in an improvement in LUTS for many men. If sexual dysfunction and LUTS share a common etiology, α-blocker use might also be associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction.

Methods

White men, aged 40-79 years, were randomly selected in 1990 and assessed for α-blocker use and LUTS severity. Sexual function was assessed using the Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory. Men who used α-blockers before any sexual dysfunction were considered “exposed.” Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated separately for each sexual function domain using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Of the 1724 men with a regular sexual partner included in the present study (mean age 57.74 years), 263 (15.3%) reported α-blocker use. α-Blocker use was associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction across all domains for men ≥50 years old (age-adjusted hazard ratio 0.53-0.69). A decreased risk of erectile dysfunction and low libido remained significant only among those using α-blockers who also experienced an improvement in LUTS (P = .01).

Conclusions

The use of α-blockers for LUTS was associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction. Improvement in sexual function correlated with the improvement in LUTS more strongly among those using α-blockers.

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 This project was supported by research grants from the Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health (grants DK58859, AR30582, and 1Ul1 RR024150-01), and Merck Research Laboratories.

PII: S0090-4295(09)00269-6

doi:10.1016/j.urology.2008.12.080

Refers to article:

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    Jennifer L. St. Sauver, Ajay Nehra, Debra J. Jacobson, Michaela E. McGree, Steven J. Jacobsen
    Urology July 2009 (Vol. 74, Issue 1, Pages 87-88)

  • Editorial Comment

    Kevin T. McVary
    Urology July 2009 (Vol. 74, Issue 1, Page 87)

Urology
Volume 74, Issue 1 , Pages 82-87, July 2009