Skip to main content
Log in

Nocturnal penile tumescence and penile responses in the waking state in diabetic and nondiabetic sexual dysfunctionals

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study compared diabetics with sexual dysfunction, nondiabetics with sexual dysfunction, and a group of controls on nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) during three nights in a sleep laboratory, and penile response to erotic stimulation in the waking state on one of the nights. Both diabetic and nondiabetic dysfunctionals showed less erectile response to erotic films and tape than controls but did not differ from each other. In contrast, the diabetic dysfunctionals showed significantly weaker NPT response than both the nondiabetic dysfunctionals and the controls, and 58% of them (contrasted with 23% of nondiabetic dysfunctionals and 0% of controls) would be classified as organic using minimal NPT (less than 11.5 mm maximal increase in penile circumference during any nocturnal erection) as the sole criterion. There was a significant relationship between NPT and waking erections in response to erotic stimuli, especially in the diabetic dysfunctionals and the controls.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abelson, D. (1975). Diagnostic value of the penile pulse and blood pressure: A Doppler study of impotence in diabetics.J. Urol. 113: 636–639.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Agnew, J. W., Webb, W. B., and Williams, R. L. (1966). The first night effect: An EEG study of sleep.Psychophysiology 2: 263–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aserinsky, E., and Kleitman, N. (1955). Two types of ocular motility occurring in sleep.J. Appl. Psychol. 8: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R. (1975).Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory: Preliminary Scoring Manual. Clinical Psychometrics, Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faerman, I., Glocer, L., Fox, D., Jadzinsky, M. N., and Rapaport, M. (1974). Impotence and diabetes: Histological studies of the autonomic nervous fibres of the corpora cavernosa in impotent diabetic males.Diabetes 23: 971–976.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, C., Gross, J., and Zuch, L. (1965). Cycles of penile erection synchronous with daydreaming (REM) sleep.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 12: 29–45.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, C., Schiavi, R., Lear, H., Edwards, A., Davis, D. M., and Witken, A. P. (1975). The assessment of nocturnal REM erection in the differential diagnosis of sexual impotence.J. Sex Marital Ther. 1: 277–289.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. (1974).Assessment of Sexual Function: A Guide to Interviewing. Jason Aronson, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heiman, J. R. (1977). A psychophysiological exploration of sexual arousal patterns in females and males.Psychophysiology 14: 266–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, S. B. (1981). Diabetic sexual dysfunction: A comparative study of 160 insulin treated diabetic men and women and an age-matched control group.Arch. Sex. Behav. 10: 493–504.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H. S. (1974).The New Sex Therapy. Bruner/Mazel, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karacan, I. (1970). Clinical value of nocturnal REM erection in the differential diagnosis of sexual impotence.Med. Aspects Human Sex. 4: 27–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karacan, I. (1980). Diagnosis of erectile impotence in diabetes mellitus.Ann. Intern. Med. 92: 334–337.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karacan, I., Goodenough, D. R., Shapiro, A., and Starker, S. (1966). Erection cycle during sleep in relation to dream anxiety.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 15: 183–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karacan, I., Williams, R. L., Thornby, J. I., and Salis, P. J. (1975). Sleep related penile tumescence as a function of age.Amer. J. Psychiat. 132: 932–937.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karacan, I., Scott, F. B., Salis, P. J., Attia, S. L., Ware, J. C., Altinel, A., and Williams, R. (1977). Nocturnal erections, differential diagnosis of impotence, and diabetes.Biol. Psychiat. 12: 373–380.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karacan, I., Salis, P. J., Ware, J. C., Dervert, B., Williams, R. L., Scott, F. B., Attia, S. L., and Beutler, L. E. (1978). Nocturnal penile tumescence and diagnosis in diabetic impotence.Amer. J. Psychiat. 135: 191–197.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kockett, G., Feil, W., Ferstl, R., Aldenhoff, J., and Besinger, A. (1980). Psychophysiological aspects of male sexual inadequacy: Results of an experimental study.Arch. Sex. Behav. 9: 477–493.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, P., Surrridge, D., and Delva, N. (1981). The role of nocturnal penile tumescence in differentiating between organic and psychogenic impotence: The first stage of validation.Arch. Sex. Behav. 10: 1–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rechtschaffen, A., and Kales, A. (1968).A Manual of Standardized Terminology, Techniques and Scoring System for Sleep Stages in Human Subjects. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renshaw, D. (1976). Impotence in diabetes mellitus.Comp. Ther. 2: 47–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R. C., and Keefe, F. J. (1978). The measurement of human penile tumescence.Psychophysiology 15: 366–376.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, A., and Cohen, H. D. (1965). The use of mercury capillary length gauges for the measurement of the volume of thoracic and diaphragmatic components of human respiraton.Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 26: 634–649.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shostrom, E. L. (1975).Caring Relationship Inventory Manual. Educational and Industrial Testing Service, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparks, R. F., White, R. A., and Connolly, M. S. (1980). Impotence is not always psychogenic.J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 243: 750–755.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, G., and Green, R. (1981).Impotence: Physiological, Psychological, Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment. Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wein, A. J., Fishkin, R., Carpiniello, V. L., and Malloy, T. R. (1981). Expansion without significant rigidity during nocturnal penile tumescence testing: A potential source of misinterpretation.J. Urology 26: 343–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1976). Research on pornography. In Oaks, W. W., Melchiode, G. A., & Ficher, I. (Eds.),Sex and the Life Cycle. Grune & Stratton, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zuckerman, M., Neeb, M., Ficher, M. et al. Nocturnal penile tumescence and penile responses in the waking state in diabetic and nondiabetic sexual dysfunctionals. Arch Sex Behav 14, 109–129 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541657

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541657

Key words

Navigation