content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Is cholesterol-lowering therapy hurting my sex life?
Q. Since I started taking Zocor a few years ago for my high cholesterol, my sex drive seems to have dwindled. My wife and I are wondering if there is a connection.
A. Cholesterol has several important functions in the body. It is an important component of the outer "skin" of cells and of the bile acids that digest food in the intestine. It also provides the starting point for making estrogen and testosterone. In theory, lowering cholesterol with a statin could lower testosterone levels, which in turn could dampen the sex drive. In practice, Zocor and other statins seem to have little or no effect on testosterone levels. One small study showed a slight decline in testosterone after long-term statin use, while others show no change. In addition to Zocor (simvastatin), the other statins are Crestor (rosuvastatin), Lescol (fluvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), and Pravachol (pravastatin).
That said, in 2004 Dutch researchers wrote about eight men who reported a decreased sex drive while taking a statin. Problems having an erection have also been reported as an uncommon side effect of statin use.
It is impossible to know if statin therapy caused these sexual side effects, or if they are due to something else. Atherosclerosis, the process that culminates in cholesterol-clogged arteries, can interfere with sexual arousal in men and women. High blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and stress, all of which are common in people with heart disease, can also diminish sexual function.
You could certainly ask your doctor to check your testosterone level. If it is abnormally low, then a testosterone patch or gel or injection could improve your sex drive. (It might also be good for your heart and arteries, something we'll explore next month.) While you are at it, ask him or her - better yet, ask your pharmacist - to review all the medications you are taking. A number of drugs can interfere with sexual function or desire.
- Thomas H. Lee, M.D. Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter
Print This
| Last updated: | August 21, 2006 |
|---|
Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. By using AOL Body, you indicate that you have read, understood, and agreed to our Terms of Service, Use of Content Agreement and AOL Body Advertising Policy. Read more about our content partners.
