Testosterone and Impotence

 
Low levels of testosterone will affect almost every male at some point in their life. Beyond the age of 25 most men will experience approximately a 10% decline of testosterone levels each decade. We always hear about women going through menopause which is characterized by a very low estrogen level, however men experience the same thing only it is known as andropause.

Low levels of testosterone can affect almost every aspect of one's health including, low sex drive, excess fat storage, low energy levels, depression, impotence and rapid aging.

Too many men begin on one of the ED drugs like Viagra and Cialis without first being evaluated for the cause. Endocrine causes are primary, due to failure of the testicles, and secondary due to malfunction of the pituitary gland. The testicles can fail from viral infection, autoimmune disease and cancer chemotherapy or radiation.

The evaluation needed is actually simple and easy since it involves blood tests. The relevant tests are the total testosterone, free testosterone, TSH, LH, FSH, Prolactin, free T4, and the A1C.

If the person is testosterone deficient, the ED drugs don't work until the testosterone is replaced. The ED drugs may work then, after testosterone treatment of about three or four months. If the prolactin is high, the doctor must evaluate the possibility of a small tumor in the pituitary. If the free T4 is low, or the TSH high, the thyroid gland needs attention.

True vascular causes of impotence are actually rare. Diabetes is one cause of vascular ED. However, often the nerve disease of diabetes improves if the person achieves tight blood sugar control.

Have a look at your testosterone levels as a possible cause of male impotence before undergoing treatment for ED.

More Reading:

Andropause and Your Sex Drive
Partial Androgen Deficiency in the Ageing Male (or PADAM) also known as Andropause, is a hormone-related condition of low testosterone (or the male hormone) which usually occurs in males aged 40 and onwards.