Know the connection between low testosterone and Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is experienced by most of the men today. But what do you think only low blood in the penis can be the only reason for ED? No, it isn't so. Low testosterone levels can also cause erectile dysfunction.

The low testosterone levels in the body reduce sex drive in men. Not directly but indirectly, it caused ED. Here, we have covered a detailed discussion on how testosterone is related to ED. Please read this page till it's last to know more about it. Let's get started.

What is testosterone?

It is a hormone produced by gonads. It is responsible for stimulating the male sexual characteristics. Testosterone helps in the fetal development. Also, it helps children to achieve puberty. The low levels of testosterone reduce the male sexual drive.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is a condition where men lose their ability to achieve erection. This reduces their sex drive and they are unable to perform well in bed. Almost one-third of men worldwide suffer from this condition today. It is mostly observed in men between the ages of 40 to 70 years.

Causes of erectile dysfunction

ED can be caused because of several reasons. Some of them are:

• Reduced blood flow to the penis.
• High cholesterol.
• Stress and anxiety.
• Low testosterone.
• Depression.

Does low testosterone cause ED?

Low levels of testosterone reduce sexual symptoms, including ED, low sex drive, low sexual desire, and more. It has been found that low T reduces the ability to masturbate by reducing sexual desire. It affects erection on two levels in the body.

Firstly, it affects the central nervous system. Low T stimulates the central nervous system to release the brain's chemical messenger. These chemical messengers are responsible for erection.

Next, it stimulates spinal nerves. It changes the blood vessels in the spinal nerves which helps achieve and maintain erection.

Hence, testosterone is responsible for causing erectile dysfunction. But it depends on how low your T level is. The very low levels cause sexual changes leading to ED.

Also, low T causes several chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and more. These conditions affect the blood flow in the body leading to ED.

Contribution of Low testosterone to ED

Low T levels contribute to ED in these below-mentioned ways:

Stress & Anxiety

Low testosterone darkens mood, resulting in increasing stress and anxiety. As we all know, stress and anxiety are the most prominent reasons for the occurrence of erectile dysfunction.

Weight gain

Low T levels reduce the ability to perform physical activity due to fatigue. Hence, it leads to weight gain and develops more body fat. Obesity can be one cause of ED.

Reduced sex drive

A person achieves an erection when they are aroused sexually. Low testosterone affects both mental and physical health by reducing sexual desire. Hence, the reduced sexual desire leads to ED.

Chronic health condition

Low testosterone levels cause specific chronic health symptoms such as high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. So, all this reduces the blood flow significantly contributing to erectile dysfunction.

ED and testosterone replacement theory

Testosterone replacement theory can be a solution for treating ED as well. But it won't work alone. When it is combined with PDE5 inhibitors, it shows effective results.

ED can be caused by several reasons other than low testosterone. So when you take PDE5 inhibitors along with Testosterone replacement theory, both together help in treating ED.

ED treatments caused by low testosterone

So, from the above discussion, it is clear that we first need to increase T levels for treating ED. Below are the treatment options you can try.

• Start taking ED medications such as Cialis, Viagra, etc.
• Combine ED medications with testosterone replacement theory.
• Start medications that boost testosterone production.

Testing testosterone levels

Your doctor may perform a blood test to test your T levels. It is best to perform a blood test in the early morning. You can visit a nearby test care unit to get it performed or book an online appointment.

Methods to increase testosterone levels naturally

You can increase your T levels with the below-mentioned techniques.

• Start eating a healthy diet. Add as many carbs and proteins as possible to your food.
• Indulge more in sexual activity.
• Perform exercise regularly for a minimum of 30 minutes. This will help you be active.

Final words

So, we can say that low T levels can be one of the causes of ED. If you are unable to achieve an erection for longer any more, it might be a symptom of low testosterone. Hence, could you consult with your doctor about it?

The doctor will monitor your health and perform specific tests to find the cause of ED. Beyond that, they will provide you with the best treatments possible.