[Relationship between erectile dysfunction and thyroid disorders: a review of current knowledge]

Several factors can disrupt the normal physiologic mechanisms involved in penile erection. Although thyroid disorders as the sole or predominant etiology of erectile dysfunction are uncommon, their detection is easy, seldom requiring more than a single blood sample. Furthermore, the restoration of euthyroid state may improve erectile function. On the other hand, most patients with a chronic thyroid disease experience some sexual symptoms. Therefore, discussion on erectile dysfunction should be considered a basic part of the medical evaluation for men with thyroid disorders. The physiopathology and diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, and the current knowledge on the relationship between thyroid disorders and erectile dysfunction are reviewed.