Most men have problems with erections from time to time. But some men have erectile dysfunction, or ED. This is when it is difficult to get or keep an erection that’s firm enough for sexual intercourse.NMDA powder
If you have ED, you may think that testosterone treatment will help. Testosterone is a male sex hormone. After age 50, men’s levels of testosterone slowly go down and ED becomes more common. But unless you have other symptoms of low testosterone, you should think twice about the treatment. Here’s why:
Testosterone treatment usually isn’t helpful for ED.
Testosterone treatment has not been shown to improve erections in men
with normal testosterone levels. And studies show that it does not help
men with low testosterone levels if ED is their only symptom.
ED usually has other causes.
ED is almost always caused by low blood flow to the penis. This is a
result of other conditions, such as hardening of the arteries, high
blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These conditions narrow the blood
vessels and reduce blood flow to the penis. Low testosterone may affect
the desire for sex, but it rarely causes ED.
Testosterone replacement therapy has many risks.
Testosterone treatment can cause the body to retain too much fluid. It
can also cause acne, an enlarged prostate, and enlarged breasts. Other
side effects include lower fertility; an increase in red blood cells;
and an increase in sleep apnea symptoms.
Women and children should avoid touching unwashed or unclothed areas of
skin where a man has applied testosterone gel. The gel can be
transferred through skin contact.
Although available data is conflicting, the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has concluded that increased cardiovascular risk (problems with
the heart and blood vessels) associated with testosterone use is a
possibility. The AUA recommends that only FDA-approved medications
should be used and a physical evaluation and follow up are important.
Testosterone replacement therapy can be costly.
Testosterone treatment can be an injection, a gel, or a patch that is
put on the skin. All of these are costly. They may cost hundreds of
dollars a month, depending on the treatment.
Men who use a testosterone treatment must use it indefinitely to get and keep the full effect.
