Serum testosterone levels and coital activity in men with somatosexual disorders.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to assess the relationship between serum testosterone levels and the coital activity in groups of married men with Klinefelter's syndrome and in men with a varicocele investigated for marital infertility. These are compared with a group of somatosexually well developed men with a normozoospermia and adequate sexual life.

SUBJECT AND METHODS: The serum testosterone levels were assessed in 77 patients with Klinefelter's syndrome (mean age 31 years, SD 5.78), 58 men with a varicocele (mean age 30.5 years, SD 5.80) and 85 healthy men with normal spermiological values (mean age 32.7 years, SD 6.31). The frequency of sexual intercourse in their marriage was assessed by interview.

RESULTS: We found that, although their serum testosterone levels were significantly lower (p < 0.01), the coital activity in both groups with somatosexual disorders did not significantly differ from the group of men with normal semen parameters. The coital activity in the group of men with Klinefelter's syndrome decreased after 35 years of age, before any decrease in serum male sex hormone levels occurred.

CONCLUSION: Statistical analysis revealed that coital activity did not correlate with testosterone levels, but correlated significantly with age. A possible interpretation of the data is that Mother Nature ensues the survival of species by the production of not only a redundant amount of spermatozoids, but also of male sex hormones.