1. ¹Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
2. ²Department of Urology, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan

Correspondence: Dr Y Naya, Department of Urology, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, 5-55 Sotojimacho, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8540, Japan. E-mail: naya.yoshio@jp.panasonic.com

Received 11 June 2005; Revised 30 November 2005; Accepted 1 December 2005; Published online 2 February 2006.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between motorcycling and erectile dysfunction (ED). We investigated the relationship between motorcycling and erectile function using the 5-items version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF5) in 234 motorcyclists (response rate 75%) and 752 healthy controls (response rate 66%). In all, 161 (69%) of 234 motorcyclists were diagnosed as ED based on IIEF5. The prevalence of ED in the motorcycle group increased by age as: 58, 63, 76 and 93%, for motorcyclists in 20–29, 30–39, 40–49 and 50–59 years, respectively. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of ED between the motorcycle group and the control group in all age groups. On stepwise logistic regression analysis, motorcycling was the strongest risk factor for ED. Although the severity of ED in motorcyclists was not so severe, motorcycling may be one of risk factors for ED.