Markers of Prenatal Androgen Exposure Correlate With Online Sexual Compulsivity and Erectile Function in Young Men

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License: CC BY 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_A693651BE84D
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Markers of Prenatal Androgen Exposure Correlate With Online Sexual Compulsivity and Erectile Function in Young Men
Journal
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Author(s)
Buchholz Verena N., Mühle Christiane, Kornhuber Johannes, Lenz Bernd
Working group(s)
Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors
ISSN
1664-0640
Publication state
Published
Issued date
06/04/2021
Volume
12
Pages
517411
Language
english
Abstract
Pornography addiction and sexual dysfunction are increasingly prevalent in young men. Previous studies suggest that prenatal androgen exposure plays a role in addiction and sexual functionality. Here, we tested whether lower second-to-fourth finger length ratio (2D:4D) and later age at spermarche, both putative indicators of higher androgen levels in utero, correlate with online sexual compulsivity (OSC scale of ISST), erectile function (IIEF-5), and ejaculatory control (PEPA) in 4,370 young men (age IQR: 25–26 years) of the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors. Statistical analyses revealed that lower 2D:4D correlated with higher scores on the OSC scale. Moreover, higher age at spermarche correlated with higher OSC scores and decreased erectile function. Interestingly, OSC severity, but not the frequency of pornography use, correlated negatively with erectile function and ejaculatory control. This is the first study to associate two independent proxies of prenatal testosterone level with OSC. These findings provide novel insight into intrauterine predisposition of sexual behavior and related sexual function in adulthood.
Keywords
Psychiatry and Mental health
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Funding(s)
Swiss National Science Foundation / 148493
Create date
19/05/2021 13:23
Last modification date
12/01/2022 7:36
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