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Alpha-blockers appear to decrease sexual dysfunction in men with LUTS, study shows

Tuesday, August 04 2009 | Comments

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What's This? Men who take alpha-blockers for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) appear to have a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction as compared with men who have not received alpha-blockers, according to recently published study results.

Sexual dysfunction and the simultaneous occurrence of LUTS is a common scenario as men age, the authors explained. Several studies have shown a link between LUTS and sexual dysfunction, they added.

To see if the use of alpha-blockers to treat LUTS would also improve sexual dysfunction, researchers examined data from a longitudinal, population-based study of 1,724 men (mean age, 57.7 years) with a regular sexual partner. Men were assessed for alpha-blocker use and LUTS severity. The 11-item Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory was used to assess sexual function.

In all,  263 men (15.3%) reported use of alpha-blocker drugs.

Men who used alpha blockers experienced decreased sexual dysfunction across all domains relative to those who were not treated with these agents. Specifically, among men treated with alpha blockers, the age-adjusted risk for erectile dysfunction was decreased a significant 47% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.53; 95% CI, 0.38-0.74; P<.01), the risk of low libido was reduced 39% (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46-0.81; P<.01), the risk of ejaculatory dysfunction was reduced 38% (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44-0.89; P=.01), the risk of sexual problems was reduced 31 percent (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.47-1.02; P=.06), and the risk of low sexual satisfaction was decreased 34% (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.49-0.89; P=.01).

When men who did not use alpha-blockers and who reported no improvements in LUTS were used as the reference group, researchers found that men who used alpha-blockers and experienced an improvement in LUTS also tended to have decreased sexual dysfunction (HR range for sexual function domains, 0.38-0.78).

"The use of alpha-blockers for LUTS for men >=50 years old was associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction," the authors concluded. "The improvement in sexual function correlated with improvements in LUTS among men using alpha-blockers, because men with an improvement in symptom score had the strongest associated improvement in sexual function." (Kumar R, et al. Urology 2009;74:82-88.)

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