Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent condition affecting millions of men worldwide. Risk factors for ED are known to be more prevalent during some seasons, yet the potential seasonal variation in ED symptom severity remains underexplored. This study investigates the relationship between the time of year and the clinical intensity of ED symptoms using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Methodology Between August 2023 and March 2025, 202 patients presenting with ED were assessed and classified into severity groups according to the IIEF-5 score. The Spearman's correlation test was applied to assess the relationship between IIEF-5 scores and the month of symptom onset. Results Questionnaires from 202 patients were collected. The average age of the sample was 51 years, ranging from 22 to 82 years. Overall, 52 (25.7%) patients belonged to the mild severity group, 81 (40%) to the mild-to-moderate group, 50 (24.8%) to the moderate group, and 13 (6.4%) to the severe ED group. When categorized by months, the results were as follows: January 80 (39.6%), February 26 (12.87%), March 13 (6.44%), April 4 (1.98%), May 9 (4.46%), June 15 (7.43%), July 7 (3.47%), August 17 (8.42%), September 4 (1.98%), October 17 (8.42%), November 4 (1.98%), and December 6 (2.97%). Spearman's test showed a correlation coefficient (ρ) of -0.15. The p-value was 0.03, indicating statistical significance at the 0.05 level. Conclusions This study demonstrates a statistically significant seasonal variation in the severity of ED symptoms, with more severe cases tending to present during the early months of the year.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.91295
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4413849731