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Effect of testosterone supplementation on sexual functioning in aging men: a 6-month randomized controlled trial

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 21, pages 129–138 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Serum testosterone levels decline significantly with aging and this has been associated with reduced sexual function. We have conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of testosterone supplementation on sexual function in 237 elderly men with a testosterone level <13.7 nmol l−1. Participants were randomly assigned to receive oral testosterone undecanoate or a placebo for 6 months. A total of 207 men completed the study. After treatment, there were no differences in scores on sexual function between the groups. Subanalysis showed that although a baseline testosterone level in the lowest tertile was associated with significantly lower scores for sexual fantasies, desire of sexual contact and frequency of sexual contact, supplementation of testosterone did not result in improvement on any of these items in this group. In conclusion, the findings do not support the view that testosterone undecanoate supplementation for 6 months to elderly men with low-normal testosterone concentrations favorably affects sexual function.

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Acknowledgements

Trial medication was provided by Organon N.V. (Oss, The Netherlands). Organon NV did either control or influence the contents of the research or this paper, nor played any part in the decision to submit this manuscript for publication. The study was financially supported by Grant 014-91-063 from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    M H Emmelot-Vonk, H J J Verhaar & H R Nakhai-Pour

  2. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    M H Emmelot-Vonk, D E Grobbee & Y T van der Schouw

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  1. M H Emmelot-Vonk
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  2. H J J Verhaar
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  3. H R Nakhai-Pour
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  4. D E Grobbee
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  5. Y T van der Schouw
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Correspondence to M H Emmelot-Vonk.

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Emmelot-Vonk, M., Verhaar, H., Nakhai-Pour, H. et al. Effect of testosterone supplementation on sexual functioning in aging men: a 6-month randomized controlled trial. Int J Impot Res 21, 129–138 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2009.5

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