FREQUENCY OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

In an investigation of vegetative disorders in Parkinson's disease, 40 patients (47-71 years of age, average 61.8 years) were questioned on erectile dysfunction. Total absence of erections was reported by 7 pat ients and impairment of erectile function by 12 others. Twenty-one pat ients maintained undisturbed sex lives. Thus, erectile dysfunction was found in 47.5% of those affected by Parkinson's disease. The incidenc e of erectile disorder is higher than in the general population. The a ssumed etiology is therefore involvement of the autonomic nervous syst em in parkinsonism.