The Association Between Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Erectile Dysfunction

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association between subclinical hypothyroidism and erectile dysfunctionStudy Design: cross sectional study.Study Place and Duration: department of General Medicine at Lahore General Hospital Lahore, Services Hospital Lahore and Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi from January 2018 to June 2018Material and methods: A total number of 180 subjects were involved in this study. The study patients were categorized into three groups’ i.e. erectile dysfunction with sub clinical hypothyroidism, erectile dysfunction with euthyroidism and controls with euthyroidism. Data was subjected statistical analysis with the help of computer software SPSS version 23. Mean±S.D was calculated for quantitative variables. For qualitative variables, frequency and percentages were calculated. Independent t test and Chi square was applied to assess the statistical difference. P value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: The difference between the ED with SCH group and the ED with euthyroidism group was statistically insignificant for FT3 (p=0.135) and E2 (p=0.318). The difference between the ED with SCH group and the controls with euthyroidism group was statistically significant except FT3 (p=0.098).Conclusion: Patients with erectile dysfunction commonly present with subclinical hypothyroidism and it can be concluded that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with erectile dysfunction. However severity of erectile dysfunction is not associated to subclinical hypothyroidism. From the results of this study, recommendations regarding the need of thyroid function screening for men presenting with erectile dysfunction can be made.

Keywords: Subclinical Hypothyroidism, Erectile Dysfunction, Euthyroidism, Thyroid, thyroxine, triiodothyronine