Serum Prolactin in Organic and Psychogenic Impotence

Elevated levels of serum prolactin in patients with pituitary tumors have been associated with hypogonadism, frequently manifested in men as impotence and/or loss of libido. The purpose of our study was to test the hypothesis that psychogenic and/or organic impotence may be a manifestation of a relative hyperprolactinemic state. We studied 30 men with the known diagnosis of impotence: 17 organic and 13 psychogenic. There were 11 normal, sexually active men used as controls. Serum prolactins were determined with the radioimmunoassay technique. There were no significant differences in serum prolactin levels among control, organic impotent and psychogenic impotent groups. Impotence does not seem to be related to hyperprolactinemia in men in the absence of pituitary disease.