Epidemiology And Etiology Of Ed
ED affects approximately 30% of men in the US. Prevalence increases with age, with complete ED tripling from 5% in men 40y of age to 15% in men 70y of age. Major risk factors for ED include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and smoking. Psychogenic components play an important role in some patients, but organic causes account for 7085% of cases., For many patients, both psychogenic and organic factors are involved. Organic causes are often classified into four groups: neurogenic, vasculogenic, hormonal, and anatomic . The prevalence of these causes depends upon the exact study and the study population being examined. In a retrospective study, vasculogenic causes accounted for 72% of cases in men under the age of 40, while neurogenic causes accounted for 12%. Other studies have suggested that 1020% of ED cases may involve hormonal abnormalities., Additional factors, such as prescription medications, may also contribute to ED.
Table 1 Organic causes of erectile dysfunction
Low Testosterone Only Affects A Man’s Sex Drive
We understand that loss of libido is a major concern for you, but that is not the only drawback to having low testosterone levels. Here are a few ways low testosterone levels can affect your health.
Energy Loss: Just a general feeling of reduced strength, especially if you used to be fairly active before.
Loss of Muscle Mass: The muscle mass can decrease significantly to let you know that your testosterone levels are decreasing rapidly.
Depression and Anxiety: You may start to feel anxiety more often. You may also have trouble concentrating but the worst thing is the depression that slowly takes over you.
Increased Body Fat and Waistline: Low levels of testosterone also invite some more fat so you can expect your waistline to increase in a matter of few weeks.
These are the most common effects, but weaker bones and increased risk of heart diseases are also some health concerns.
Does Boron Work For Ed
The idea that boron works for ED is based on the effects it has on free testosterone. If the source of your ED is low testosterone levels, high levels of estradiol, or other hormone-related causes, you may find some success in taking boron.
But if the source of your ED is another cause, like poor circulation due to a heart condition or nerve damage resulting from a condition like diabetes, taking boron wont do much to help you.
Talk to a doctor about diagnosing any underlying condition that may be causing ED before you take boron.
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How Low Testosterone Levels Affect Sex
When it comes to low testosterone, many of the symptoms can affect your sex life. For example, low libido can make you less interested in sex. Low energy levels can also make it difficult to take part in an active and rigorous sex life. However, there are some other symptoms that may indirectly affect sex.
Mood changes like depression, irritability, and anxiety can also take a toll on your sex life. They can make it difficult to be interested in sex or may lead to relationship problems that affect intimacy with your partner.
Mood changes and body changes like weight gain and loss of muscle mass can also lead to feeling self-conscious, which can make it hard to engage in the bedroom. Many men start to avoid sexual situations when they feel embarrassed about their body.
Theres also a chance that low testosterone levels can also affect erectile function. While research is still out on just how significant a role testosterone plays in erections, some evidence suggests that it may influence erections, either directly or indirectly.
When Erection Pill Isn’t Enough: Gel Treatment For Men With Low Testosterone Columbia University Medical Center Study Shows
Men with Sexual Dysfunction Should Take Simple Blood Test To Determine Necessity of Combination Treatment
New York, NY
For men with erectile dysfunction and low testosterone who do not respond to Viagra* alone, the supplemental use of AndroGel** improves erectile function and overall sexual satisfaction, according to a Columbia University Medical Center study.
Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, associate professor of urology at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and director of the New York Center for Human Sexuality at Columbia University Medical Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital presented the multicenter study findings at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association in Chicago.
Our data support the potential benefits of a combination therapy with testosterone gel for men with erectile dysfunction and low testosterone who find sildenafil by itself ineffective, said Dr. Shabsigh. When assessing erectile dysfunction, doctors and patients should consider using a simple blood test to determine if low testosterone is a contributing factor. If the root cause is low testosterone, sildenafil alone won’t fix the problem.
It is estimated that four to five million American men have low testosterone. Furthermore, low testosterone, also called hypogonadism, affects about one in 10 men between the ages of 40 and 60. Low testosterone may lead to decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, reduced lean body mass, depressed mood and fatigue.
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Testosterone Therapy Vs Testosterone Boosters
Healthcare professionals may treat low testosterone levels with testosterone replacement therapy . TRT, which involves using injections, oral medications, or topical creams that contain actual testosterone, is only available when prescribed by a doctor or another clinician.
You can also purchase over-the-counter products marketed as testosterone supplements or boosters. These supplements dont contain testosterone. They contain vitamins, minerals, and herbs intended to promote testosterone production.
In short, theres a difference between supplementing with actual testosterone and taking supplements that contain vitamins and minerals intended to help boost testosterone production.
When Should You Consider Testosterone Treatment For Ed
If youve had trouble having erections for three months, talk to your doctor. He or she will ask about all your symptoms and give you a physical exam. Symptoms of low testosterone can include less of a sex drive, loss of body hair, breast growth, needing to shave less often, a drop in muscle size and strength, and bones that break more easily.
If you have some of these symptoms, your doctor may have you get a blood test to measure your testosterone levels. The blood test should be done more than once. It is best to do it in the morning when testosterone levels are highest.
If the tests show that you have low testosterone levels, your doctor should look for possible causes. For example, the low levels might be caused by a problem in the pituitary glands.
If no other cause is found, you can try testosterone treatment.
This report is for you to use when talking with your health-care provider. It is not a substitute for medical advice and treatment. Use of this report is at your own risk.
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Can High Testosterone Levels Cause Erectile Dysfunction
The most common cause of high testosterone levels is due to testosterone replacement therapy given to those looking to boost testosterone levels and anabolic steroids that athletes use to enhance their performance. With high testosterone levels affecting sexual health in some cases, such as causing erectile dysfunction.
Does Testosterone Supercharge Your Love Life
Claiming that Testosterone can supercharge your love life is a great way to sell testosterone supplements, but unfortunately, this is not true. Higher testosterone levels do not mean that the amount of sexual activity in your life will also increase. Over the years, there have been numerous studies to explore the relationship of sexual behavior and testosterone. The results clearly show that there is a weak and sometimes no connection between the two. But! the quality of the sex you can have can increase, just think about stronger erections, increased desire, and longer erection duration. 🙂
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Will Testosterone Help With Ed
About a year after that visit to my doctor, I started looking up low testosterone on the Internet. Whatever algorithm Google works with changed my life. An ad for Hone Health popped up and with nothing to lose, I took the test. It confirmed I had low testosterone my levels were 256ng/dL.
Before making the video appointment to talk with a Hone doctor, I had an honest conversation with my wife. Shes my rock and I needed to make sure we both knew what I was getting into. I knew being on TRT could make it harder to have kids, but after discussing the options with her, we agreed that starting treatment was the right thing to do.
TRT and Fertility
TRT helps relieve symptoms of low T, but it can affect fertility by decreasing your sperm count. Infertility caused by TRT is not permanent, however, and you should talk with your doctor about your options. Other meds, like Clomid, can relieve symptoms of low T while protecting fertility.
Side Effects Of Taking Extra Boron
Dosage Warning
Boron has been known to be fatal when taking more than 20 grams in adults or 5 to 6 grams in children.
Here are some of the other documented side effects of taking too much boron:
- damage to blood vessels
Be careful with supplements. A little bit can go a long way, but too much can be dangerous. Your body may not be able to efficiently filter out the excess amount, causing it to build up in your bloodstream to toxic levels.
Always talk to a doctor before adding any supplements to your diet. Interactions with other supplements or medications can happen.
Theres no one recommended dose for boron. But heres what the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine says are the absolute highest amounts you should take based on your age:
| Age |
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How Does Testosterone Therapy Help Alleviate Sexual Dysfunction
Men with low testosterone levels typically have a diminished libido and desire for sex. Reduced testosterone levels might also make you feel tired and sluggish, which contributes to your lack of enthusiasm for sex with your partner. Fortunately, testosterone therapy enhances your sex desire, restoring your youthful interest.
Low testosterone may impair your performance during sex and can have a range of negative impacts on men’s sexual performance, which include:
- Sexual dysfunction
What Are The Side Effects Of Testosterone Replacement Therapy
In general, testosterone replacement therapy is safe. It is associated with some side effects, including:
- Acne or oily skin
- Mild fluid retention
- Stimulation of prostate tissue, with perhaps some increased urination symptoms such as a decreased stream or frequency
- Increased risk of developing prostate abnormalities
- Breast enlargement
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Are There Risks To Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Yes, there are a few risks involved, but again, they vary from person to person. For instance, TRT can increase the red blood cell count, which raises the chances of stroke or thrombosis. A 2015 study also found that TRT can increase the risk of prostate cancer and even prostate enlargement. That is why it is recommended that men with prostate cancer or preexisting prostate problems should avoid TRT.
Testosterone Therapy And Libido
Libido, or sexual drive, is affected by a multitude of factors, including physiologic ones, such as a defect in the hypothalamic-pituitary access or depression, or environmental ones, such as marital discourse or anxiety . Changes in libido can variably affect individuals, with a wide range of clinical presentations. Longitudinal studies have found that libido declines with increasing male age . When assessing libido, many studies use the sexual desire domain of the IIEF , which asks men to two libido-related questions: âOver the past 4 weeks, how often have you felt sexual desire?â and âOver the past 4 weeks, how would you rate your level of sexual desire?â Like the IIEF-EF domain, the IIEF-SD questions can be used to diagnose mild, mild to moderate, moderate, and severe dysfunction . Other studies have used their own scale, such as the Sexual Arousal, Interest and Drive scale â a validated patient reported outcomes measuring 5 scored items, including sexual thought, arousal, as well as interest and drive .
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Study: Testosterone May Not Treat Ed
Researchers Say Testosterone Replacement Therapy May Not Be Helpful for Erectile Dysfunction
Oct. 17, 2011 — Many men may be taking supplements of the male sex hormone testosterone to improve their sexual function, but it may not be that helpful after all.
A new study of men 60 and older who had low or borderline low levels of testosterone showed that testosterone replacement therapy did not improve erectile dysfunction or their ability to achieve and maintain an erection, compared to a placebo gel.
Men who used either a low dose or a conventional dose of testosterone gel showed no improvements in their sexual function during the course of the year-long study, compared with men who used placebo gel.
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Orlando, Fla.
“It appears that testosterone supplementation will not improve ED, though it may have other benefits on sexual function that were not evaluated with this data,” says study researcher Lauren W. Roth, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist at the University of Colorado in Denver, in an email.
Sexual function is one of many reasons that many men are turning to testosterone therapy. With a laundry list of promises from a boost in sex drive and more energy to an increase in muscle mass and mental acuity, testosterone therapy can be tempting for many men who want to feel and look younger than they do.
Testosterone & Sexual Function
While its certainly true that testosterone is tied to your libido, its a popular misconception that male virility is totally dependent upon testosterone. In fact, the ability to enjoy sex is tied up with multiple factors.
For this reason, it is incorrect to assume that merely boosting your testosterone levels will guarantee an improved sex life. In fact, testosterone therapy can actually lead to testicular shrinkage, changes in sexual function and in rare cases infertility.
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Signs Of Too Much Testosterone
While the two conditions arent inextricably connected, its 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 theres no significant change in their bodies, while others can have debilitating symptoms.
Heres a list of symptoms that may affect those with high testosterone in men:
- Aggressive behavior
- Unexplained weight gain
Its 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 youreworried about deteriorating health, consult with a sexual health doctor to get proper treatment.
How To Increase Your Testosterone Levels
Testosterone therapy is one of the best ways to increase testosterone levels, but there are also a few tips you can try at home:
When you start testosterone therapy at Focal Point Vitality, well get you set up with an all-hands-on-deck plan to help you see results as fast as possible. So, not only will you have TRT on your side, but our team will work with you to implement strategies including the ones noted above to accelerate your progress.
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Sex Drive Ed And Testosterone
Testosterone replacement therapy improves sexual desire and arousal is the first step to an erection. Taking a deeper look at libido and sexual arousal we should look inside the brain at the cerebral cortex and limbic system. Men with low testosterone show a clear disconnect between the pituitary gland, testicles, and these two areas of the brain throwing off the entire endocrine axis that drives all production of testosterone.
The cerebral cortex helps men plan and think. Under normal circumstances, when sexually aroused, brain waves launch from the cerebral cortex triggering various nerves that elevate the heart rate and redirects blood flow into the party in your pants creating an erection. If testosterone levels are low, these testosterone sensitive nerves have nothing to initiate the erection process leading to ED.
The amygdala starts the entire process of sexual arousal. As we cover in our cognitive health article, the amygdala houses lots of testosterone receptors to trigger your sex drive. If there is not enough testosterone pumping through the brain, these receptors go hungry and the sexual desire process is thrown off.
To distinguish between mental and physical causes of sexual dysfunction , medical researchers claim that sexual dysfunction is mental and less physical if erections occur during sleep or when men wake up with morning wood.