Aging Gracefully and with Great Health

Is Your ED Actually Due To Low Testosterone Levels?

29 July 2020 by For Content

Erectile dysfunction is something many men experience, but few men actually talk about it. Since it can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable topic to discuss, there are a lot of misconceptions floating around about ED, and some men are particularly unaware that it can be associated with low testosterone levels. You deserve to know the details about your body, so here's a closer look at the relationship between testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction. 

What are the signs your ED is due to low testosterone?

Not every case of ED is caused by low testosterone. Sometimes, ED can be due to stress or high blood pressure. However, if you are also experiencing the following health problems and concerns, then it's likely that low testosterone is at least partially to blame for your ED symptoms.

• Loss of interest in sex — even if you could achieve an erection, you don't have much desire to do so
• A reduction in body hair growth
• Fatigue and frequent feelings of exhaustion, even when you get plenty of sleep
• Trouble losing weight or building muscle
• Feeling depressed and moody quite often

How can you find out for sure whether your ED is due to low testosterone levels?

Contact your doctor, and request a blood test. They will take a sample of the blood and measure the amount of testosterone that is bound to various proteins within your blood. (This gives a longer-term picture of how your testosterone levels are doing than simply looking at the free testosterone in your blood since free testosterone levels can change wildly throughout the day.) 

Your doctor should be able to analyze your results and let you know, within a few minutes, whether your ED can be attributed to low testosterone. This does not mean that there are not other contributing factors to your ED, too, but it does mean that low testosterone is at least one contributing factor.

What can be done about low testosterone levels?

If you do have low testosterone, then supplementing with testosterone will help correct for your ED. And don't worry — you don't have to give yourself testosterone shots every day! These days, many men rely on testosterone patches, which they stick to the skin for a slow release of testosterone throughout the day. There are also testosterone implants that your doctor can place under your skin. They're about the size of a grain of rice and slowly release testosterone over a period of months.

If you're suffering from ED, there's no need to be embarrassed or silent. Talk to your doctor about this symptom and learn more about potential testosterone replacement treatments.

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