Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an important impediment to quality of life. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common causes of ED. In other hand, it has been one of the most neglected complications of diabetes mellitus. Our objective was to study prevalence of ED and its relative factors in diabetetes. Methods: During 2002-2004, 700 diabetic men aged 20-69 years were studied at Sina hospital and Abouzahr Health Center. Patients were screened for erectile dysfunction using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Results: ED was found in 246 (35.1%) of 700 diabetic men. Prevalence of ED was increased with age from 9.7% in men aged 20-30 years to 35% in those aged over 60 years. Men with type I diabetes reported ED less frequently than did men with type II diabetes (odds ratio=1.6). In comparison with reporting diabetes lasting ≤ 5 years, the odds ratio for ED were 1.5 and 2.2 for subject with diabetes lasting 6-10 and 11-30 years respectively. In comparison to the men with good glycemic control, the odds ratio for ED was 1.6 and 2.07 in the men with fair and poor control, respectively. Conclusion: Erectile dysfunction is common in diabetic Iranian men. Further studies on ED risk factors and relation between ED and other complications of diabetes are warranted.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, microvascular, sexual

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