SAN FRANCISCO — Higher levels of exercise are associated with lower levels of sexual dysfunction, according to a study of 178 healthy men.
Men who reported exercise of at least 9 metabolic equivalents (METs) per week were 65% less likely to report sexual dysfunction. Brisk walking for 30 minutes a day for 4 days per week is equivalent to about 9 METs, according to Dr. Erin R. McNamara of Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C., who presented the results of her study at the meeting.
“If men won't exercise for the cardiovascular benefits, maybe they'll exercise to have better sex,” Dr. McNamara said at a news briefing.
The men in the study were all enrolled in a prospective case-control study at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Their mean age was 62 years; mean body mass index was 30.7 kg/m
The sexual function survey consisted of six questions, including ability to have an erection, quality and frequency of erections, and overall sexual ability. The investigators converted scores on the survey to a 0-100 scale.
The men also were asked to assess their duration, intensity, and frequency of exercise. The investigators converted these estimates to MET hours per week. They classified men reporting fewer than 3 MET hours per week as sedentary (53% of the sample), 3–8 MET hours as active (14%), 9–17 MET hours as moderately active (9%), and 18 or more MET hours as highly active (24%).
Mean sexual function scores were 42 for sedentary men, 50 for active men, 72 for moderately active men, and 70 for highly active men. The trend was statistically significant.
In a multivariate analysis controlling for age, race, BMI, and other factors, men reporting moderate or high levels of physical activity were 65% less likely to have sexual dysfunction than sedentary men.
Men with moderate or high levels of physical activity were 65% less likely to have sexual dysfunction.
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