Work

Association of ambient temperature and diurnal temperature range exposure during adolescence with adult IIEF-5 and PEDT scores: a cross-sectional study in China

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Exposure to extreme temperatures and diurnal temperature range (DTR) has been linked to impaired male reproductive health, yet studies investigating the associations between such exposures during adolescence and adult male sexual function (MSF) remain limited. Methods We analyzed data from 5,039 sexually active males across 31 provinces in China, drawn from a two-stage quota-sampled cross-sectional online survey conducted in 2023. Exposure periods included all adolescence (10–19 years), early adolescence (10–14 years), and late adolescence (15–19 years). Adolescent temperature and DTR exposures were retrospectively estimated using participants' current adult residential addresses. Generalized additive models and hierarchical linear models were employed to assess the associations between temperature and DTR exposure and self-reported MSF, measured by the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Results Generalized additive models suggested U-shaped and J-shaped trends for ambient temperature and DTR with PEDT scores, respectively, and formal tests confirmed significant departure from linearity. Exposure to extremely hot temperatures (> 90th percentile) during early adolescence was associated with higher PEDT scores ( β : 0.67, 95% CI: 0.24–1.10) compared to moderate temperatures. Higher DTR exposure (>80th percentile) during all adolescence ( β : 0.75, 95% CI: 0.29–1.22), early adolescence ( β : 0.75, 95% CI: 0.28–1.21), and late adolescence ( β : 0.48, 95% CI: 0.00–0.96) was also associated with higher PEDT scores. No significant associations were observed between temperature or DTR exposure and IIEF-5 scores. Conclusions Our study provides preliminary epidemiological evidence that adolescent exposure to extremely hot temperatures and higher DTR is associated with higher PEDT scores in adulthood, with no association observed for IIEF-5 scores.

Source: Frontiers in Reproductive Health

DOI: 10.3389/frph.2026.1955542