The effects of bromocriptine on the sexual behaviour of hyperprolactinaemic man: a controlled case study

A 44-year old man presented with loss of sexual interest and erectile failure and together with his wife was treated successfully with sexual counselling. He was subsequently found to have been hyperprolactinaemic before and after sex therapy. Comparison of bromocriptine with placebo in two double blind studies showed a modest increase in sexual interest when his prolactin levels fell to normal. In this case, the principal effect of hyperprolactinaemia was on sexual interest. His main problems, erectile impotence and decline in sexual activity, resulted from his and his wife's psychological reaction to this modest hormonal effect. Hyperprolactinaemia appears to have a similar effect to testosterone deficiency in men.