PITUITARY GONADAL SYSTEM FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH ERECTILE IMPOTENCE AND PREMATURE EJACULATION

The pituitary testicular system was studied in men with psychogenic impotence. Eight patients with primary erectile impotence age 22-36 years, eight men with secondary erectile impotence age 29-55 years, and 16 men with premature ejaculation age 23-43 years were studied. The last group was further divided into two subgroups: E1 (n = 7) patients without and E2 (n = 9) patients with anxiety and avoidance behavior toward coital acitivity. Sixteen normal adult men age 21-44 served as a control group. Diagnosis was made after psychiatric and physical examinations. Patients complaining primarily of loss of libido were not considered in the study. Ten consecutive blood samples were obtained over a period of 3 hr from each patient. Luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone, and free (not protein-bound) testosterone were measured. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between patients and normal controls. © 1979 Plenum Publishing Corporation.