{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,26]],"date-time":"2026-10-26T19:54:25Z","timestamp":1793044465812,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,16]],"date-time":"2022-06-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1655337600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JPM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a rising problem, with important implications for public health. Recent evidence has revealed a link between OSA and reduced male fertility. We investigated the association between OSA and sexual and erectile function, as well as semen quality, and the effect of treatment by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). A total of 41 male subjects, who underwent polysomnography for suspected OSA, participated in the study. Erectile and sexual function were assessed with the 15-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) questionnaire, blood samples, and sperm analysis. OSA patients after the initiation of CPAP treatment were followed for a period of 1 year. Thirty-two patients were diagnosed with OSA, and nine subjects without OSA were used as a control group. OSA patients demonstrated significantly impaired erectile function, reduced testosterone levels, and lower semen quality. Multivariable regression analysis showed that BMI and IIEF score were independent determinants of AHI. Sexual function improved after a year of CPAP therapy in OSA patients. This study provides further evidence regarding the association between OSA and erectile function impairment, as well as semen quality. Longitudinal adherence to CPAP treatment has a beneficial effect on erectile function.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jpm12060980","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,17]],"date-time":"2022-06-17T05:25:11Z","timestamp":1655443511000},"page":"980","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["Impaired Human Sexual and Erectile Function Affecting Semen Quality, in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Konstantina","family":"Kyrkou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, General Panarkadian Hospital of Tripoli \u201cEvangelistria\u201d, 22100 Tripoli, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2699-1829","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emmanouil","family":"Alevrakis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fourth Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sotiria Hospital of Chest Diseases, Mesogeion 152, 11527 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katerina","family":"Baou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fourth Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sotiria Hospital of Chest Diseases, Mesogeion 152, 11527 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manos","family":"Alchanatis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"First Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4581-6276","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cornelia","family":"Poulopoulou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"First Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christos","family":"Kanopoulos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biopathological Diagnostic Research Laboratory \u201cAnalysi\u201d, Vas. Sofias 74 St., 11528 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emmanouil","family":"Vagiakis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Sleep Disorders Center, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Evangelismos Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dimitris","family":"Dikeos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"First Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1186\/s12958-015-0032-1","article-title":"A unique view on male infertility around the globe","volume":"13","author":"Agarwal","year":"2015","journal-title":"Reprod. 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