Abstract
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study on a group of men with erectile problems and a sexually functional comparison group, the effect of yohimbine (up to 30 mg/day) was assessed on a number of objective and subjective measures of erectile response through the use of daily logs and psychophysiological laboratory procedures involving response to visual sexual stimulation (VSS). Sexual desire, arousal, and ejaculatory response were also assessed. Results indicated no effect of yohimbine on most aspects of sexual response in sexually functional men. Mixed effects were found on measures of sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction, with 3 of 11 men reporting strong positive effects. Under yohimbine, frequency of sexual activities increased, as did self-assessed genital response to VSS. Daily diaries indicated increased sexual arousal and erectile response during masturbation but not intercourse. A number of other measures, including NPT and retrospective summaries of erectile functioning at the end of drug phases, showed no effect. Results are discussed in terms of possible yohimbic effects on psychological factors that modulate overall sexual response, and consequently, erectile response.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Barlow, D. H., Becker, R., Leitenberg, H., and Agras, W. S. (1970). A mechanical strain gauge for measuring penile circumference change. J. Appl. Behav. Anal. 3: 73–76.
Charney, D. S., and Heninger, G. R. (1986). α-Adrenergic and opiate receptor blockade: Synergistic effects on anxiety in healthy subjects. Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 43: 1037–1041.
Charney, D. S., Heninger, G. R., and Redmond, D. E. (1983). Yohimbine induced anxiety and increased noradrenergic function in humans: Effects of diazepam and clonidine. Life Sci. 33: 19–29.
Clark, J.T., Smith, E. R., and Davidson, J. M. (1984). Enhancement of sexual motivation in rats by yohimbine. Science 225: 847–849.
Condra, M., Morales, A., Surridge, D. H., Owen, J. A., Marshall, P., and Fenemore, J. (1986). The unreliability of nocturnal penile tumescence recording as an outcome measurement in the treatment of organic impotence. J. Urol. 135: 280–282.
Danjou, P., Alexander, Warot, D., Lacomblez, L., and Puech, A. (1988). Assessment of erectogenic properties of apomorphine and yohimbine in man. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 26: 733–739.
Grossman, E., Rosenthal, T., Peleg, E., Holmes, C., and Goldstein, D. S. (1993). Oral yohimbine increases blood pressure and sympathetic nervous outflow in hypertensive patients. J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 22: 22–26.
Hedner, T., Edgar, B., Edvinsson, L., Hedner, J., Persson, B., and Pettersson, A. (1992). Yohimbine pharmacokinetics and interaction with the sympathetic nervous system in normal volunteers. Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 43: 651–656.
Janssen, E., Everaerd, W., van Lunsen, R., and Oerlemans, S. (1994). Validation of psychophysiological waking erectile assessment (WEA) for the diagnosis of male erectile disorder. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 1222–1228.
LoPiccolo, J., and Stock, W. (1986). Treatment of sexual dysfunction. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 54: 158–167.
Kaplan, H. S. (1981). The New Sex Therapy, Bruner/Mazel, New York.
Mann, K., Klingler, T., Noe, S, Roeschke, J., Mueller, S., and Benkert, O. (1996). Effects of yohimbine on sexual experiences and nocturnal tumescence and rigidity in erectile dysfunction. Arch. Sex. Behav. 25: 1–16.
Montorsi, F., Strambi, L., Guazzoni, G., Galli, L., Barbieri, L., Rigatti, P., Pizzini, G., and Miani, A. (1994). Effect of yohimbine-trazodone on psychogenic impotence: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Urology 44: 732–736.
Morales, A., Condra, M., Owen, J., Surridge, D., Fenemore, J., and Harris, C. (1987). Is yohimbine effective in the treatment of organic impotence? Results of a controlled trial. J. Urol. 137: 1168–1172.
Nessel, M. A. (1994). Yohimbine and pentoxiifylline in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Am. J. Psychiat. 151: 453.
Owen, J., Nakatsu, S., Fenemore, J., Condra, M., Surridge, D., and Morales, A. (1987). The pharmacokinetics of yohimbine in man. Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 32: 577–582.
Price, L. H., Charney, D. S., and Heninger, G. R. (1984). Three cases of manic symptoms following yohimbine administration. Am. J. Psychiat. 141: 1267–1268.
Riley, A. J. (1994). Yohimbine in the treatment of erectile disorder. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 38: 133–136.
Riley, A. J. (1989). Double blind trial of yohimbine hydrochloride in the treatment of erection inadequacy. Sex. Marital. Ther. 4: 17–26.
Riley, A. J., Peet, M., and Wilson, C. (eds.). (1993). Sexual Pharmacology, Oxford, Claredon.
Rowland, D. L., and Heiman, J. R. (1991). Self-reported and genital arousal changes in sexually dysfunctional men following a sex therapy program. J. Psychosom. Res. 35: 1–11.
Rowland, D. L., and Slob, A. K. (1992). Vibrotactile stimulation enhances sexual response in sexually functional men: A study using concomitant measures of erection. Arch. Sex. Behav. 21: 387–400.
Rowland, D. L., and Slob, A. K. (1995). Understanding and diagnosing sexual dysfunction: recent progress through psychophysiological and psychophysical methods. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 19: 201–209.
Rowland, D. L., den Ouden, A. H., and Slob, A. K. (1994). The use of vibrotactile stimulation for determining sexual potency in the laboratory in men with erectile problems: Methodological considerations. Int. J. Impotence Res. 6: 153–160.
Segraves, R. T. (1991). Pharmacological enhancement of human sexual behavior. J. Sex Educ. Ther. 17: 283–289.
Slob, A. K., Blom, J. H., & van der Werff ten Bosch, J. J. (1990). Erection problems in medical practice: Differential diagnosis with a relatively simple method. J. Urol. 143: 46–50.
Sonda, L. P., Mazo, R., and Chancellor, M. B. (1990). The role of yohimbine for the treatment of erectile impotence. J. Sex Marital Ther. 16: 15–21.
Susset, J., Tessier, C. D., Wincze, J., Bansal, S., Malhotra, C., and Schwacha, M. (1989). Effect of yohimbine hydrochloride on erectile impotence: A double-blind study. J. Urol. 141: 1360–1363.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rowland, D.L., Kallan, K. & Slob, A.K. Yohimbine, Erectile Capacity, and Sexual Response in Men. Arch Sex Behav 26, 49–62 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024521403389
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024521403389