Problems in the bedroom are detrimental to our state of mind, regardless of gender. It’s a heavy burden to carry, and most people spring to actively seeking a solution as fast as possible. Unfortunately, in some, realizing that they have a condition may even lead to depression, which can lead to delays in seeking treatments.
Erectile dysfunction in men is the most commonly mentioned issue with sexual capability, but astonishingly, most of us don’t know much about it. Let’s try and demystify this condition and see how we can get rid of it.
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is basically an inability to get or maintain an erection long enough to have sex. Now, it’s important to understand that having “issues” from time to time is no reason to get worried. We get tired, we get stressed, we haven’t eaten, and no matter how strong our mind is, our body can’t always keep up.
On top of that, there are cases where men simply make things worse by getting scared and pressuring themselves that they have to perform, which usually backfires, creating a psychological barrier.
If the situation persists, you should definitely see a doctor. In most cases, the situation is easily resolved, but in some, well, let’s just say that there are quite a few nasty underlying issues you don’t want to delay checking for.
What causes ED?
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by many different things. To an extent, we can call not getting an erection a symptom of something else. We can divide the causes of ED into two separate categories, physical and psychological.
Physical causes:
Psychological causes:
As you can see, there are a lot of causes for ED, and it doesn’t necessarily need to be just one of them causing problems. That’s why it can take some time for doctors to find the underlying cause and treat it.
There’s one factor that we didn’t mention, but it’s the primary subject of this article, so we will talk about it in the next segment.
How is testosterone connected to ED?
We all know that testosterone is the male hormone, and it got this status because it is responsible for the development of male features during puberty and the development of male sexual features in utero.
It plays a significant role in male sex drive and libido too, which is not surprising, everything considered.
When it comes to ED, there have been extensive trials done to determine its role in this particular situation. The data that the researchers got indicates that testosterone plays a role in maintaining a steady erection by dilating the arteries in the penis.
When we talk about proper testosterone levels, we have to consider the fact that men lose some of their testosterone-producing capabilities as they get older. After thirty-five, they tend to lose 1% of overall testosterone levels per year — a ballpark number, of course, as lifestyle and genetics may offset these percentages for better and for worse.
What you should keep in mind is the fact that ED is mostly a vascular issue, as you can have ED and have regular testosterone levels. You can also have low testosterone levels and not have ED. There are situations where testosterone plays a factor, and there are situations where it’s a non-factor.
How is it usually treated?
Being that the causes of ED are so diverse, the treatments will depend on the initial diagnosis. Naturally, if there is an illness that is causing these issues, treatment will definitely be a priority, but if it’s not, doctors tend to focus on the following things.
1. Healthy Diet
When it comes to being overweight, the best thing you can do is to ensure that you are in a caloric deficit. This means that you are eating less than you usually eat to ensure you stop gaining weight.
The other thing you’ll need to take care of is your choice of food. Junk food, bad fatty acids, and refined sugars all need to go down significantly. Cholesterol-heavy foods are your biggest enemies as they clog up the arteries contributing to low circulation and the intensity of your ED.
2. Avoiding stress
As a consequence of anxiety and stress, the neural pathways between the brain and our reproductive system can be interrupted, which stops blood flow to the penis. Getting your mind under control through therapy, medication, meditation, or any other approach is a priority.
3. Sleep Regulation
Another important factor in the whole circulation thing is definitely the quality of the sleep you are getting. One of the side effects of being chronically tired is poor blood circulation which is why we get that feeling of sluggishness throughout days when we’ve underslept. So get 7-8 hours of sleep consistently, don’t try to make up for lost sleep by sleeping 10-12 hours, as this does more harm than it helps.
4. Consistent Exercise
Cardio, naturally, is great for improving your cardiovascular health. Now, most people hate running, but if it takes 30 minutes of cardio 3 to 4 times a week to improve your circulation and get rid of ED, we feel like that isn’t too big of an ask.
Naturally, these are just some examples and depending on your condition, symptoms, test results, and other factors, doctors may advise a variety of treatments and approaches.
Can testosterone boosters help?
Testosterone boosters can help with ED symptoms if you have a testosterone deficiency. In other situations, they are really not that useful when it comes to this issue.
Still, some testosterone boosters don’t just contain ingredients that boost testosterone production but also those that impact our circulation and sex drive. That’s why it’s important to read the label and research the ingredients before you decide on a testosterone booster.
What are other treatments usually recommended?
While lifestyle and habit changes are essential, the recovery process from ED can take a while in some cases. That’s why there are specialized medications that help alleviate the symptoms of ED. We don’t recommend getting any of these without consulting your doctor first.
Drugs that help with vascular issues
We call this type of drug PDE-5 inhibitors due to the way they work. The PDE-5 is an enzyme that has the role of tightening our blood vessels, so inhibiting this enzyme allows our arteries to relax, and through this, we get more blood circulation in relevant areas. They are generally safe to use, but if you are using nitrates which are usually meds for chest pain, you should avoid these drugs. Most older people should consult their doctor first.
Examples of PDE-5 medicines:
Testosterone treatment:
In cases where ED is caused by extremely low testosterone levels, doctors will usually prescribe TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy). This medication can come in many forms, including pills, capsules, patches, and injections. It can also be used in tandem with PDE-5 inhibitors to improve the results you are getting. Keep in mind that this treatment is only prescribed to people with hypogonadism.
There are quite a few benefits of TRT:
This treatment comes with its set of side effects, though:
This treatment requires medical assistance along the way and monitoring throughout the process to ensure that everything goes according to plan. Don’t take this therapy without a doctor’s supervision, even if you have a chance.
Conclusion
Testosterone levels are not always the underlying issue when it comes to erectile dysfunction. If this is the case, testosterone boosters can definitely help, but if the problem is more vascular in nature, you’ll have to take a different approach.
Go get yourself tested to establish if you are within the normal testosterone range, so you know which direction you need to move in. In most cases, physicians will only recommend testosterone boosters if your ED symptoms come with fatigue and a drop in libido, among other symptoms.
Checking for underlying diseases and conditions is crucial for several reasons, but primarily to ensure you are treating the right things. Some of the conditions that cause ED may be life-threatening, and most doctors will test for those first just to ensure you are ok.
We advise you to visit your doctor before you decide to resolve this issue on your own.