Most men have problems with erections from time to time. But some men have erectile dysfunction, or ED. This is when it is hard to get or keep an erection that’s firm enough for sexual intercourse.If you have ED, you may think that testosterone treatment will help. Testosterone is a male sex hormone. After age 50, men’s levels of testosterone slowly go down and ED becomes more common. But unless you have other signs and symptoms of low testosterone, you should think twice about the treatment.

Testosterone treatment is not necessarily helpful for ED. Testosterone treatment does not improve erections in men with normal testosterone levels. And studies show that it does not always help men with low testosterone levels if ED is their only symptom.

ED usually has other causes. ED is usually caused by low blood flow to the penis or a problem with the nerves that control erections.

Testosterone treatment has many risks. Testosterone treatment can cause the body to retain too much fluid. It can also cause acne, an enlarged prostate, and enlarged breasts. Other side effects include lower fertility; an increase in the number of red blood cells, which can lead to heart disease; an increase in sleep apnea symptoms; and a higher risk of prostate cancer growing faster.

When should you consider testosterone treatment for ED?

• If you’ve had trouble having erections for three months, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will ask about all your symptoms and give you a physical exam.
• Symptoms or signs of low testosterone can include less of a sex drive, loss of body hair, breast growth, needing to shave less often, a drop in muscle size and strength, and bones that break more easily. In some cases the testicles may be found to be smaller.

If you have some of these symptoms, your doctor may have you get a blood test to measure your testosterone levels. The blood test should be done more than once. It is best to do it in the morning when testosterone levels are highest. If the tests show that you have low testosterone levels, your doctor should look for possible causes. For example, the low levels might be caused by a problem in the pituitary glands. If no other cause is found, you can try testosterone treatment.

Conditions: Hypogonadism, Erectile Dysfunction (ED), Impotence, Sexual Dysfunction.

Treatments: Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), Androgen Replacement Therapy (ART).