Short Sleep Duration and Erectile Dysfunction: A Review of the Literature

Fuxun Zhang1,2 *, Yang Xiong1,2 *, Feng Qin,1 Jiuhong Yuan1,2 1Andrology Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jiuhong Yuan, Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China, Email jiuhongyuan2107@163.comAbstract: The meaning of sleep has puzzled people for millennia. In modern society, short sleep duration is becoming a global problem. It has been established that short sleep duration can increase the risk of several diseases, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Currently, a growing body of research has revealed a possible link between sleep disorders and erectile dysfunction (ED). However, the mechanisms linking short sleep duration and ED are largely unknown. Thus, we provide a review of clinical trials and animal studies. In this review, we propose putative pathways connecting short sleep duration and ED, including neuroendocrine pathways and molecular mechanisms, aiming to pave the way for future research. Meanwhile, the assessment and improvement of sleep quality should be recommended in the diagnosis and treatment of ED patients.Keywords: erectile dysfunction, molecular mechanisms, sleep disorder, short sleep duration, signaling pathway