Gonadal steroid and gonadotropin response to dexamethasone: a study in sexual dysfunction and normal controls

Numerous investigations have reported an alteration of hormonal response to dexamethasone in depressive disorder. No such data are available in psychogenic sexual dysfunction. Pre- and postdexamethasone levels of testosterone, estradiol, LH and FSH were studied in 20 male patients with sexual dysfunction and 20 male healthy controls. Dexamethasone had no influence on testosterone, estradiol, LH and FSH in normal controls. The patients showed an increase in testosterone and LH but not in FSH levels in the morning after dexamethasone administration. When compared with basal levels, the increase in postdexamethasone levels in sexual dysfunction was significant for testosterone (delta T) but not for LH (delta LH). The altered gonadal steroid and gonadotropin response to dexamethasone in sexual dysfunction might be due to disturbances of dexamethasone metabolism and glucocorticoid receptor density comparable to similar findings in depressive disorder.