[Relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and erectile dysfunction: A Mendelian randomization study]

Objective To investigate the causal relationship between age at first sexual intercourse (AFS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Methods Genetic instruments for AFS as the exposure and ED as the outcome were obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary statistical approach for MR analysis, with Cochran's Q test assessing heterogeneity and the MR-Egger intercept test assessing horizontal pleiotropy. Results The IVW method indicated a causal relationship between AFS and ED risk (Pooled OR: 0.599, 95% CI: 0.492－0.732, P<0.001). And the heterogeneity and pleiotropy analyses confirmed the accuracy and robustness of these findings. Conclusion A younger AFS is associated with a higher risk of ED, which provides a reference for the sex education in adolescents.