Recent discoveries on the physiology of an erection have demonstrated that the organic causes of impotence are more common, and psychogenic impotence is correspondingly less common than was formally believed. The incidence of sexual dysfunctions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is largely unknown or may be perfunctorily attributed to the associated illness or to aging. This study investigated whether or not the impotence was related to the COPD itself as well as whether or not it may stem from organic causes in a notable proportion of such patients.

The sexual function was evaluated in 10 COPD patients and 10 normal control subjects. A nocturnal Rigi Scan was performed to evaluate the erectile function of each group. The level of hormones such as the free testosterone, prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was measured, and a pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas analysis was performed.

The time duration and frequency of a penile erection were significantly lower in COPD patients than the controls (p<0.05). In addition, the PaO₂ levels correlated with the time duration of the penile erection.

These results suggest that COPD is one of the causes of organic erectile dysfunction.