Restless legs syndrome, which affects 5 to 15 percent of U.S adults, is characterized by painful sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move the legs. Men who experience restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms at least 15 times per month are twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction than men without restless legs, according to a new study published in the January 1, 2010 issue of the journal Sleep.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School and their colleagues studied 23,119 non-diabetic men aged 40 to 75 without arthritis who answered questions related to restless legs syndrome. Of these men, just over 4 percent met the diagnostic criteria for restless legs syndrome and experienced symptoms of restless legs at least 5 times per month. The researchers found that men with restless legs syndrome had a greater likelihood of erectile than those without RLS in every age group. And, the most frequent the RLS symptoms, the higher the risk of having erectile dysfunction. The link between restless legs syndrome and erectile dysfunction held, regardless of age, body mass index, use of antidepressant medications, anxiety, and other known risk factors for restless legs syndrome. However, it is not clear if restless legs syndrome causes sexual dysfunction, or if it is the other way around.

The possible link between restless legs syndrome and erectile dysfunction is based in part on the hypothesis that both conditions are associated with sleep disorders and decreased function of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Current treatments for restless legs syndrome include dopamine-based medications, which may also be effective for erectile dysfunction. However, further research is needed to confirm these associations.

Source:

Sleep 2009;33:75-79.