How diabetes affects the function of the male reproductive system

  Diabetes has a great impact on male sexual function and may seriously reduce the patient’s quality of life. It has been said that sexual dysfunction is the third most disabling lesion after blindness and amputation, so it must be paid attention to in the treatment of diabetes. The clinical manifestations of sexual dysfunction in male diabetic patients are varied and mainly include decreased libido, loss of orgasm, erectile dysfunction (formerly called impotence), premature ejaculation, reverse ejaculation or non-ejaculation, and infertility after marriage.  The causes of these abnormalities are multifaceted, including factors of systemic metabolic disorders and physical decline, as well as factors of local vascular nerve dysfunction and mental and psychological factors, and the decline of male hormone levels in most patients is not obvious. Patients may not be able to have a normal sexual life due to erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, or they may not be able to discharge semen normally due to the dysfunction of the nerves regulating the ejaculatory ducts, but instead eject it into the bladder in a reverse direction, resulting in male infertility.  These abnormalities can cause great mental stress and untold suffering to the patient, seriously affecting the control of the patient’s diabetic condition and quality of life. The management of hypogonadism in male diabetic patients also includes good control of blood glucose, prevention and treatment of neurological complications, systemic medication such as Viagra, yohimbine and herbal treatment, local medication such as compound poppy bases and phentolamine local injections, etc. Negative pressure penile erection devices and penile prosthesis implants can also be used to promote the recovery of the patient’s sexual ability. Because of the obvious psychological and psychological factors that influence the sexual dysfunction of diabetic patients, psychotherapy is very important.