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Cited by 26Hormonal and reproductive studiesSexual function and dysfunction studiesObstructive Sleep Apnea Research

Increased sexual desire with exogenous testosterone administration in men with obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized placebo-controlled study

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Melehan, K. L., Hoyos, C. M., Yee, B. J., Wong, K. K., Buchanan, P. R., Grunstein, R. R., Liu, P. Y.·2016·Andrology
DOI 10.1111/andr.12132PMC PMC5035106
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Abstract

Testosterone (T) deficiency, sexual dysfunction, obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common and often coexist. T prescriptions have increased worldwide during the last decade, including to those with undiagnosed or untreated OSA. The effect of T administration on sexual function, neurocognitive performance and quality of life in these men is poorly defined. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of T administration on sexual function, quality of life and neurocognitive performance in obese men with OSA. We also secondarily examined whether baseline T might modify the effects of T treatment by dichotomizing on baseline T levels pre-specified at 8, 11 and 13 nmol/L. This was a randomized placebo-controlled study in which 67 obese men with OSA (mean age 49 ± 1.3 years) were randomized to receive intramuscular injections of either 1000 mg T undecanoate or placebo at baseline, week 6 and week 12. All participants were concurrently enrolled in a weight loss program. General and sleep-related quality of life, neurocognitive performance and subjective sexual function were assessed before and 6, 12 and 18 weeks after therapy. T compared to placebo increased sexual desire (p = 0.004) in all men, irrespective of baseline T levels. There were no differences in erectile function, frequency of sexual attempts, orgasmic ability, general or sleep-related quality of life or neurocognitive function (all p = NS). In those with baseline T levels below 8 nmol/L, T increased vitality (p = 0.004), and reduced reports of feeling down (p = 0.002) and nervousness (p = 0.03). Our findings show that 18 weeks of T therapy increased sexual desire in obese men with OSA independently of baseline T levels whereas improvements in quality of life were evident only in those with T levels below 8 nmol/L. These small improvements would need to be balanced against potentially more serious adverse effects of T therapy on breathing.

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Crossref · 10.1111/andr.12132

Cites

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  • In men with OSA, 18 weeks of testosterone therapy heightened sexual desire compared with placebo.

    “heightened sexual desire compared with placebo therapy [87, 133].”

    From Sleep, testosterone and cortisol balance, and ageing men (2022) · cites this paper as [133]

    The Results report that testosterone increased sexual desire compared with placebo, with the difference persisting through the 18-week study. The Abstract specifies that participants were obese men with OSA enrolled in a weight-loss program; the claim does not retain that population qualifier. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In men with OSA, 18 weeks of testosterone therapy increased muscle mass compared with placebo.

    “18 weeks of testosterone therapy in men with OSA increased muscle mass”

    From Sleep, testosterone and cortisol balance, and ageing men (2022) · cites this paper as [133]

    The Study design section describes an 18-week testosterone-versus-placebo trial in men with OSA, but the Results report sexual function and other outcomes, not muscle mass. Searches for “muscle mass,” “lean mass,” and “body composition” found no muscle-mass result in our copy. Page numbers were unavailable. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In men with OSA, 18 weeks of testosterone therapy improved insulin sensitivity compared with placebo.

    “improved insulin sensitivity”

    From Sleep, testosterone and cortisol balance, and ageing men (2022) · cites this paper as [133]

    The Introduction says this report focuses on sexual function, quality of life and cognition, while cardiometabolic outcomes were reported elsewhere. Neither the supplied passages nor searches for insulin sensitivity and related metabolic terms establish whether testosterone improved insulin sensitivity compared with placebo. (LLM, conf=0.75)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In men with OSA, 18 weeks of testosterone therapy reduced liver fat compared with placebo.

    “reduced liver fat”

    From Sleep, testosterone and cortisol balance, and ageing men (2022) · cites this paper as [133]

    The Study design section describes an 18-week testosterone-versus-placebo trial in men with OSA, but it lists sexual function, quality of life, and neurocognition as the assessed outcomes. The Results and Discussion passages do not report liver fat; searches for liver fat, hepatic fat, and intrahepatic lipid found no supporting passage in our copy. No page numbers were provided. (LLM, conf=0.75)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In a RCT of 67 men with OSA not treated with CPAP, testosterone treatment did not improve quality of life, neurocognitive function, or sexual function, except for a modest increase in sexual desire.

    “In a RCT of 67 men with OSA not treated with CPAP, testosterone treatment did not improve quality of life, neurocognitive function, or sexual function, except for a modest increase in sexual desire (39).”

    From A Perspective on Middle-Aged and Older Men With Functional Hypogonadism: Focus on Holistic Management (2017) · cites this paper as [39]

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Johns MW 2008 Appendix 1: The subjective measurement of excessive daytime sleepiness Sleep Disorders: Diagnosis and Therapeutics Pandi-Perumal SR Verster J Monti J Langer S 643 657 CRC Press Boca Ranton, FL, US

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Authors
Melehan, K. L., Hoyos, C. M., Yee, B. J., Wong, K. K., Buchanan, P. R., Grunstein, R. R., & Liu, P. Y.
Affiliations
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
  • Liverpool Hospital (AU)
Corresponding author
Liu, P. Y.
ORCID
Venue
Andrology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2015-11-26
Volume
4
Issue
1
Pages
55-61
ISSN
  • 2047-2919 (ISSN-L)
  • 2047-2927
DOI
10.1111/andr.12132
PMC
PMC5035106
OpenAlex
W2172704474
Cited by
26
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2
FWCI
2.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Andrology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (512499)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (UL1TR000124, R01 HL124211‐01)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
Keywords
testosterone replacement therapy, testosterone undecanoate, obstructive sleep apnea, sexual desire, sexual dysfunction, obesity, quality of life, neuropsychological performance, erectile function, weight loss
MeSH terms
Adult, Cognition, Double-Blind Method, Fatty Acids, Humans, Erectile Dysfunction, Libido, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Penile Erection, Quality of Life, Sexual Behavior, Testosterone, Treatment Outcome, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

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