Do statins cause erectile dysfunction?

Q: I am 43. My cholesterol was elevated to 290, so my doctor prescribed atorvastatin.

My wife is 39 and very sexy. People usually think she’s in her 20s. I have normal sexual urges, but when we have the chance to make love, getting an erection is super difficult.

She thinks I am losing interest in her or that there is someone else. Neither has happened in our 20 years together and certainly isn’t true now. So, my erectile difficulties are causing problems in our marriage.

I recentl y had my cholesterol checked again, and it has dropped all the wayto111.

I plan to STOP taking this drug and maintain the lower levels by eating better. Would that restore my ability to get an erection?

A: The effects of statins on libido and sexual performance have been controversial for years.

There i s evidence that these cholesterol-lowering drugs lo wer testosterone levels (BMC Medicine, Feb. 28, 2013).

Although testosterone is linked to sexual desire and performance, a recent meta-analysis involving nearly 70,000 men did not find an association between statin use and erectile dysfunction (American Journal of Medicine, April 2018).

We have hear dfrom many other men who, like you, believe that statins contributed to their sexual problems. We cannot say whether stopping atorvastatin will m akea difference, but a healthful diet and exerc isetol ower cholesterol also m ay have benefits in the bedroom.