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Erectile dysfunction is a serious concern for a man’s sexual health. It can affect men from all ages and walks of life—from men approaching their 80s to healthy middle-aged men. The worst part? The number of men suffering from this condition is only growing.
By 2025, it’s estimated that a staggering 322 million men will suffer from erectile dysfunction in some form or another—more than double the amount from 1995.
A logical presumption would be that testosterone levels have everything to do with one’s inability to stay erect. After all, testosterone is responsible for a plethora of male-related and sexual functions: regulation of one’s libido, production of sperm, and so on.
So, can too much testosterone cause ED?
While it would be fine and dandy to conclude that they are connected, this assumption is incorrect. There simply isn’t enough evidence to show a link between testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction, yet.
This means that people with high (or low) testosterone levels can still have healthy erections. This also means that people with healthy testosterone levels can have symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
This isn’t an attempt to minimize the importance of having low testosterone levels, though. Having too much or too little testosterone can still result in a variety of health problems—Many of which can be avoided with the right lifestyle and proper treatment
Let’s look into what too much testosterone can do to the body, as well as treatment plans one can undergo to improve their sexual health condition.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is a condition wherein not enough blood flows in the penis.
When you’re sexually aroused, your brain signals an erectile tissue known as the corpora cavernosa in your penis to relax, allowing the flow of blood inside the chamber.
As the blood flows inside, a fibrous membrane known as the tunica albuginea seals the blood from exiting. This, in turn, results in an erection.
When there’s a problem in this process, it’s often due to a vascular issue involving the blood vessels, not hormones.
There are many clinically approved ways to treat erectile dysfunction, including:
- Testosterone replacement therapy
- Testosterone supplement
- Proper lifestyle management
- Avoiding vices like smoking and drinking
Consult with a doctor to restore your erectile function and live an active sex life.
Erectile Dysfunction and Testosterone—Is There a Connection?
While testosterone is important for sexual function, the level of testosterone circulating around your body isn’t directly responsible for blood flow to the penis.
According to a research study, researchers agreed that erectile dysfunction and testosterone aren’t causally related.
However, they did point out some notable findings that connect the two conditions.
According to the aforementioned study, endocrinopathy—a disease related to hormones—is a rare cause for erectile dysfunction. Among these types of hormone diseases, hypogonadism or low testosterone is the most frequent cause of erectile dysfunction in men.
Another study also found that having higher amounts of serum testosterone circulating the body had no significant impact on erectile function.
These studies prove one thing: the relationship isn’t strong enough for high testosterone levels to cause erectile dysfunction.
Signs of Too Much Testosterone
While the two conditions aren’t inextricably connected, it’s still important to keep your testosterone levels in balance for your health.
Signs of high testosterone levels can vary from person to person. Some may feel that there’s no significant change in their bodies, while others can have debilitating symptoms.
Here’s a list of symptoms that may affect those with high testosterone in men:
- Aggressive behavior
- Acne
- Infertility
- Low sperm count
- Mood swings
- Prostate enlargement
- Unexplained weight gain
- High libido
It’s not common for high testosterone levels to occur in men naturally. Oftentimes, frequent anabolic steroid use for bodybuilders is to blame. However, some rare cases where high testosterone can occur naturally include a sex-hormone producing tumor.
If you’re worried about deteriorating health, consult with a sexual health doctor to get proper treatment.
Treatment for High Testosterone
The testosterone treatment plan will depend on the root cause of your testosterone problems.
Getting tested for high testosterone is important. You may suffer from long-term health problems if you fail to restore your testosterone back to its normal range.
For men, a study has confirmed that those with high testosterone have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer than those with normal levels.
Women with higher-than-normal testosterone levels tend to suffer an increased risk of medical conditions too, namely type 2 diabetes, PCOS, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer.
Doctors may treat patients by prescribing them medication and lifestyle routine changes.
Here are some treatment plans that doctors may prescribe you.
Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone therapy is one of the most recommended treatment plans to treat men with low testosterone permanently.
Testosterone therapy typically involves the use of topical testosterone through creams, gels or injections to restore normal testosterone levels.
The acting clinician may also prevent you from using T-boosting supplements and steroids when under a TRT program.
Weight Management Program
If you’re clinically obese or overweight, your doctors may recommend you to undergo a medically-guided weight management program.
Aside from changing your diet into a more healthier one, doctors may recommend the following exercises to improve your sexual function:
- Lifting weights
- Calisthenics
- Running
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Yoga
Read more tips on how to undergo weight loss the healthy way.
Dietary Changes
Avoiding foods like diet and sugar can also help improve your health tremendously, as removing them from your diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
If you’ve been committed to a diet plan, but you’re still not losing weight, it may be time to consult guidance from a medical weight loss doctor as it relates to your sexual and holistic health.
Contact Ft. Lauderdale’s Top ED Specialists for a Consultation about Sexual Health Issues
High levels of testosterone in our bodies can lead to a slew of problems; however, erectile dysfunction isn’t the primary result of this.
While there are some overlaps between the two types of diseases in terms of symptoms, ED is largely a vascular issue, whereas testosterone is a hormonal one.
Nonetheless, if left untreated, these conditions can wreak havoc in one’s sex life and reproductive health.
Fortunately, it’s possible to get back into shape.
With the right men’s health treatment plans, and an expert doctor to supervise your recovery, you can return back to living an active and healthy life once more.
If you’re having issues with erectile dysfunction, call the team at Preferred Men’s Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with their experienced and specially trained medical staff. We are South Florida’s leading men’s clinic providing ED therapy, PE therapy, testosterone therapy, acoustic wave therapy, medical weight loss, and much more.