Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility
Published on: May 30, 2025
Restless legs syndrome and erectile dysfunction
Xiang Gao1, Michael A Schwarzschild, Eilis J O'Reilly
1Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. xiang.gao@channing.harvard.edu
Study Objectives:
Dopaminergic hypofunction in the central nervous system may contribute to restless legs syndrome (RLS) and erectile dysfunction (ED). We therefore examined whether men with RLS have higher prevalences of ED.
Design:
RLS was assessed using a set of standardized questions. Men were considered to have RLS if they met 4 RLS diagnostic criteria recommended by the International RLS Study Group, and had restless legs > or = 5 times/month. Erectile function was assessed by a questionnaire.
Setting:
Community-based.
Participants:
23,119 men who participated in the Health Professional Follow-up Study free of diabetes and arthritis.
Results:
Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios for ED were 1.16 and 1.78 (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 2.3; P trend < 0.0001) for men with RLS symptoms 5-14 times/mo, and 15+ times/mo, respectively, relative to those without RLS, after adjusting for age, smoking, BMI, antidepressant use, and other covariates. The associations between RLS and ED persisted in subgroup analysis according to age, obesity, and smoking status.
Conclusions:
Men with RLS had a higher likelihood of concurrent ED, and the magnitude of the observed association was increased with a higher frequency of RLS symptoms. These results suggest that ED and RLS share common determinants.
Related Concept Videos
Restless Leg Syndrome and Night Terrors
The exact cause of RLS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate muscle movement. Imbalances in dopamine levels...
Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra. Symptoms...
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation
The blood filling the erectile tissues compresses the veins, which helps to prevent blood from leaving...
Alterations in Muscle Tone lll
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation