Journal List > J Korean Med Assoc > v.62(6) > 1126801

Park: Diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction in elderly men

Abstract

Male sexual dysfunction refers to a phenomenon in which a man experiences difficulty at any stage during the process of sexual intercourse. In general, erectile dysfunction is regarded as the most representative form of sexual dysfunction, but various other diseases can also be categorized as male sexual dysfunction, including sexual arousal disorder, decreased libido, ejaculation disorder, and Peyronie's disease. Causes of sexual dysfunction include chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. In addition, some medications, surgical procedures, and traumas can cause sexual dysfunction. However, aging is the most important cause of male sexual dysfunction. To diagnose and treat elderly patients who complain of male sexual dysfunction, it is first necessary to become familiar with the characteristics of sexual dysfunction in elderly men. The prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, stroke, and depression are higher among elderly men than among younger men; furthermore, the elderly are at a higher risk for the development of kidney, hepatic, spinal cord, and neurological diseases. Notably, anti-hypertensive agents can affect erectile function in elderly men: sexual dysfunction may be severe or the response to treatment may be poor. For satisfactory treatment, spousal factors should also be considered.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

PDE5 inhibitors used to treat erectile dysfunction in Korea

jkma-62-308-i001

PDE5, phosphodiesterase type 5.

Table 2

Testosterone preparations used to treat testosterone deficiency in Korea

jkma-62-308-i002

Notes

Conflict of Interest No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

References

1. Rosing D, Klebingat KJ, Berberich HJ, Bosinski HA, Loewit K, Beier KM. Male sexual dysfunction: diagnosis and treatment from a sexological and interdisciplinary perspective. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2009; 106:821–828.
2. Ioakeimidis N, Kostis JB. Pharmacologic therapy for erectile dysfunction and its interaction with the cardiovascular system. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2014; 19:53–64.
crossref
3. Moon DG. Changing men's health: leading the future. World J Mens Health. 2018; 36:1–3.
crossref
4. Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, Krane RJ, McKinlay JB. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol. 1994; 151:54–61.
crossref
5. Donnelly DW, Kearney T, McCaughan E, Downing A, Weller D, Glaser AW, Gavin A. Treatment for erectile dysfunction among older men in Northern Ireland. Int J Clin Pract. 2019; 73:e13259.
crossref
6. Freak-Poli R, Kirkman M, De Castro Lima G, Direk N, Franco OH, Tiemeier H. Sexual activity and physical tenderness in older adults: cross-sectional prevalence and associated characteristics. J Sex Med. 2017; 14:918–927.
crossref
7. Bartke A. Growth hormone and aging: updated review. World J Mens Health. 2019; 37:19–30.
crossref
8. Hyun JS. Vision and strategies for men's health research in an aging society. World J Mens Health. 2018; 36:173–175.
crossref
9. Cappelleri JC, Rosen RC, Smith MD, Mishra A, Osterloh IH. Diagnostic evaluation of the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function. Urology. 1999; 54:346–351.
crossref
10. Ryu JK, Cho KS, Kim SJ, Oh KJ, Kam SC, Seo KK, Shin HS, Kim SW. Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology (KSSMA) guideline on erectile dysfunction. World J Mens Health. 2013; 31:83–102.
crossref
11. Pescatori ES, Hatzichristou DG, Namburi S, Goldstein I. A positive intracavernous injection test implies normal veno-occlusive but not necessarily normal arterial function: a hemodynamic study. J Urol. 1994; 151:1209–1216.
crossref
12. Chung WS, Park YY, Kwon SW. The impact of aging on penile hemodynamics in normal responders to pharmacological injection: a Doppler sonographic study. J Urol. 1997; 157:2129–2131.
crossref
13. Munoz MM, Bancroft J, Marshall I. The performance of the Rigiscan in the measurement of penile tumescence and rigidity. Int J Impot Res. 1993; 5:69–76.
14. Bird SJ, Hanno PM. Bulbocavernosus reflex studies and autonomic testing in the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction. J Neurol Sci. 1998; 154:8–13.
crossref
15. Yuan J, Zhang R, Yang Z, Lee J, Liu Y, Tian J, Qin X, Ren Z, Ding H, Chen Q, Mao C, Tang J. Comparative effectiveness and safety of oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Eur Urol. 2013; 63:902–912.
crossref
16. Won JE, Chu JY, Choi HC, Chen Y, Park HJ, Duenas HJ. Safety and effectiveness of once-daily Tadalafil (5 mg) therapy in Korean men with benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptoms in a real-world clinical setting: results from a post-marketing surveillance study. World J Mens Health. 2018; 36:161–170.
crossref
17. Park NC, Kim TN, Park HJ. Treatment strategy for non-responders to PDE5 inhibitors. World J Mens Health. 2013; 31:31–35.
crossref
18. Hebert KJ, Kohler TS. Penile prosthesis infection: myths and realities. World J Mens Health. 2019; 03. 20. [Epub]. DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.180123.
crossref
19. Tsujimura A. The Relationship between testosterone deficiency and men's health. World J Mens Health. 2013; 31:126–135.
crossref
20. Corona G, Vignozzi L, Sforza A, Maggi M. Risks and benefits of late onset hypogonadism treatment: an expert opinion. World J Mens Health. 2013; 31:103–125.
crossref
21. Shin MJ, Jeon YK, Kim IJ. Testosterone and sarcopenia. World J Mens Health. 2018; 36:192–198.
crossref
22. Hackett G. Type 2 Diabetes and testosterone therapy. World J Mens Health. 2019; 37:31–44.
crossref
23. Nam YS, Lee G, Yun JM, Cho B. Testosterone replacement, muscle strength, and physical function. World J Mens Health. 2018; 36:110–122.
crossref
24. Mulhall JP, Trost LW, Brannigan RE, Kurtz EG, Redmon JB, Chiles KA, Lightner DJ, Miner MM, Murad MH, Nelson CJ, Platz EA, Ramanathan LV, Lewis RW. Evaluation and management of testosterone deficiency: AUA guideline. J Urol. 2018; 200:423–432.
crossref
25. Khera M, Adaikan G, Buvat J, Carrier S, El-Meliegy A, Hatzimouratidis K, McCullough A, Morgentaler A, Torres LO, Salonia A. Diagnosis and treatment of testosterone deficiency: recommendations from the fourth International Consultation for Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2015). J Sex Med. 2016; 13:1787–1804.
crossref
26. Traish AM, Johansen V. Impact of testosterone deficiency and testosterone therapy on lower urinary tract symptoms in men with metabolic syndrome. World J Mens Health. 2018; 36:199–222.
crossref
TOOLS
ORCID iDs

Hyun Jun Park
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0566-9574

Similar articles