Low Testosterone and ED: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
How testosterone levels can affect your sexual function and treatments for it.
Low testosterone, also called Low T or hypogonadism, affects about 10-40% of people worldwide. It is more common in men, especially as you age. One of the more common signs of low testosterone is erectile dysfunction (ED). Understanding more about testosterone, the symptoms of low testosterone, and how it causes ED can help you to manage symptoms and get proper treatment.
What is testosterone?
Testosterone is one of many hormones that your body produces to perform several different functions. Testosterone is responsible for things like your sperm production, fertility, energy levels, moods, bone and muscle growth, and sex drive.
When your testosterone levels are low, some of all of these functions can be affected, and not in a good way.
Why is testosterone important?
Without adequate amounts of testosterone, an individual could experience several things. Testosterone plays a vital role in the sexual development of a biological male’s body, and without it, one could experience issues with underdeveloped sexual organs, brain and body functions, fertility, and bone and muscle problems.
Adequate levels of testosterone ensures that your body develops properly, maintains bone and muscle, your fat is properly distributed on your body, and you have a healthy sex drive and function.
Signs and symptoms of low testosterone
Many men don’t realize they have low testosterone initially, as some of the signs and symptoms can be non-specific, and can be blamed on lots of other things before the correct cause is found. The signs and symptoms of low testosterone includes:
Reduction in sex drive: Losing interest in, or having less desire to engage sexually is one of the most common signs of low testosterone.
Erectile dysfunction: Many men with low testosterone struggle with difficulty achieving or keeping an erection.
Fatigue: Feeling tired and low-energy can be caused by low testosterone.
Mood changes: Feelings of depression, bad moods, or mood swings, can be caused by low testosterone.
Face and body hair loss: Thinning of your facial and body hair can be caused by low testosterone levels.
Losing muscle: Losing both strength in your muscles as well as muscle mass can be caused by low testosterone.
Increased body fat: Noticing more body fat, especially around the belly, can be caused by low testosterone levels.
Anemia: Low red blood cell counts can be caused by low testosterone.
Keep in mind that many of these symptoms, like anemia, can also be caused by other serious medical conditions. It’s always important to make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you are having any of the above symptoms so that they can check your overall health in addition to your testosterone levels.
How low testosterone can cause erectile dysfunction (ED)
In order for your body to function optimally, the complex interplay between countless hormones, blood flow, nerve function, and other health factors all play a role. When it comes to erectile function specifically, testosterone is needed in order to stimulate your sexual desire/drive as well as to support the blood vessels and tissues needed to achieve an erection.
When you have low testosterone levels, these and other functions might not work well enough to reliably be able to achieve and maintain erections.
Diagnosing low testosterone-related ED
If you think that low testosterone is playing a role in your erectile difficulties, reach out to a healthcare professional who can help to determine the cause of your issues and offer treatment options.
The diagnosis of low testosterone can involve:
Taking a medical history and asking about your symptoms
Performing a physical examination to check for signs
Taking blood tests to check hormone levels and more
Treatment for low testosterone and ED
The good news is that treating low testosterone is possible. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can bring your testosterone levels up to normal and may alleviate many of your symptoms. There are many options for TRT, including injections, topic creams, gels and patches, and even implantable pellets.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to track your testosterone levels, side effects and progress closely with the guidance of your doctor.
In addition, medications are available to treat erectile dysfunction, sometimes even if testosterone levels are low. Ask your doctor if a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (such as sildenafil) might be a safe option for you.
