Effects of Androgens and Estrogens on Sexual Desire
[P3-206] Hypogonadism with Estrogen Removal (HER): Effects of Androgens and Estrogens on Sexual Desire in Young Adult Men
http://edrv.endojournals.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/32/03_MeetingAbstracts/P3-206
Testosterone (T) is thought to be the primary hormonal regulator of libido/sexual desire (SD) in men.
Methods: To determine if SD is also regulated by estrogen (E), we recruited 2 cohorts of healthy men aged 20-50. All men received goserelin acetate (Zoladex, AstraZeneca LP, 3.6 mg q4wk) to suppress endogenous T and E.
Men in Cohort 1 (T/E+, n=198) were randomized to treatment with 1 of 5 doses of a T gel (AndroGel, Abbott) daily for 16 weeks (G1-placebo; G2-1.25g; G3-2.5g; G4-5g; G5-10g).
Men in Cohort 2 (T/E-, n=200) were randomized to the same T doses plus all men received anastrozole (Arimidex, AstraZeneca LP, 1 mg/d) to block conversion of T to E.
SD was assessed using both the International Index of Erectile Function (SD-M1) and a previously-validated question asking subjects to compare their sex drive now with baseline levels (-2=much less, -1=somewhat less, 0=the same, +1=somewhat more, +2=much more) (SD-M2).
Changes were assessed within the T/E- cohort to assess T effects and between cohorts to assess E effects. Specifically, if T has an independent effect on SD, subjects in the T/E- cohort who receive no or little testosterone replacement should experience decreased SD compared to those receiving higher doses (as E levels will be the same).
Conversely, if E has an independent effect on SD, differences between the T/E+ and T/E- cohorts should be observed in Groups 2-5 but not G1 (because E levels should be similarly low in subjects in G1 of both cohorts but higher in G2-5 in the T/E+ cohort).
Results: Mean serum T levels in G1-5 were 43, 173, 346, 477, and 882 ng/dL in the T/E+ cohort and 34, 199, 329, 475, and 857 ng/dL in the T/E- cohort (P=NS at each dose between cohorts).
SD declined more in men receiving placebo T than in the other T dose groups in both the T/E+ (P<0.005 vs G2, 3, 4 and 5 by SD-M1 and SD-M2) and the T/E- (P<0.02 vs G4 and G5 by SD-M1 and P<0.01 vs G3, 4, and 5 by SD-M2) cohorts.
Aromatase inhibition further reduced SD in men receiving T gel (G2-5, P<0.0001 by both SD-M1 and SD-M2) but had no effect on SD in men receiving placebo T gel (G1, P=0.72 by SD-M1 and P=0.53 by SD-M2).
Conclusions: As expected, lowering T levels reduces SD in men. Surprisingly, S[exual]D[esire] is further reduced in men treated with an aromatase inhibitor to reduce E production. These results suggest that non-aromatizable androgens may be less effective than aromatizable androgens for hypogonadal men with low sexual desire.