Statins increase the risk of erectile dysfunction by 51%

This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics 1996 Apr;21(2):89-94.

Study title and authors:
Men treated with hypolipidaemic drugs complain more frequently of erectile dysfunction.

Bruckert E, Giral P, Heshmati HM, Turpin G.
Service d'Endocrinologie-Métabolisme, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8809645

The objective of this study was to assess whether there is an association between impotence and treatment with cholesterol lowering drugs. The study included 339 men taking cholesterol lowering drugs and 339 controls.

The study found:
(a) Men taking statins had a 51% increased risk of erectile dysfunction compared to men not taking cholesterol lowering drugs.
(b) Men taking fibrates had a 46% increased risk of erectile dysfunction compared to men not taking cholesterol lowering drugs.

The results from the study show that men taking cholesterol lowering drugs have an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.