Endocrine causes of impotence. Optimistic outlook for restoration of potency.

Endocrine disorders are important, potentially reversible causes of impotence. Impotence may be an early manifestation of hypopituitarism, nonfunctioning pituitary tumors, prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors, or hyperthyroidism. Treatment of these disorders, as well as many of the other endocrinopathies with which impotence may be associated, usually leads to restoration of libido and potency. When impotence is caused by the autonomic neuropathy of diabetes, however, treatment of the endocrinopathy rarely restores sexual function. Sex therapy or implantation of a penile prosthesis may be useful in selected patients with this cause of impotence.