Relationship between Male Sexual Dysfunction, Fertility Power and Heart Function: Avicenna’s Standpoint

Abstract

Infertility and erectile dysfunction (ED) are common health issues and exacerbate as men age. In recent years, it has been realized that cardiovascular disease (CVD) forecasts the incidence of ED; however, there is less evidence of the relationship between fertility with CVD. According to Avicenna, an eminent physician of Persian medicine, there is a connection between CVD, male sexual problems, and fertility. The aim of this study is to discuss the mentioned connection and the role of medicinal plants in mitigating CVD and as a result, male infertility. This library-based study focused on Avicenna's outstanding manuscript “The Canon of Medicine”. Scientific databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to investigate current pharmacological findings and mechanisms of action of medicinal plants mentioned in “The Canon of Medicine”. Avicenna pinpointed that CVD is responsible for insufficient production of the endogenous gaseous substance required for the erection, causing infertility. He mentioned the association between the ability to produce semen of good quality and fertility potential to improve heart function. Medicinal plants mentioned in his manuscript mainly possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, improve plasma lipid profile, reduce triacylglycerol, and show cardioprotective effects, which consequently boost fertility by improvement of sperm parameters. Expression of the association between cardiac function and male fertility demonstrates Avicenna's significant contribution to improving the sciences of male fertility and cardiology in the medieval era. In addition, the recommended medicinal plants seem to be a valuable source for identifying new remedies for the treatment of male sexual disorders and infertility.

Keywords

• Persian medicine
• Impotence
• Herbal medicine
• Spermatogenesis
• Molecular mechanism
• History of medicine