Hormones and Erectile Dysfunction
Is there a connection between Hormones and Sex; how about hormones and erectile dysfunction?
A resounding answer to both questions is – “YES!”
Good health equals good sex!
Good health and a good relationship equal even better sex!
At the core of good health is hormonal balance.
And now we have made the connection between the hormones and sex.
Now, let us take a step back and see what good sex is and the meaning of it for men versus women. Sexual issues for both genders can be related to various components of a sexual function: arousal, desire and orgasm.
Before anything, one important thing to mention is that: Sex is 90% psychology and 10% biology.
This is particularly valid for women. Psychology, emotions, feelings, and relationship are everything to women when it comes to physical intimacy. For most women, a good relationship is a key component of a healthy sexual life.
When there are problems in a relationship, there are problems in sexual life. Sexual issues for women are more commonly referred to as “sexual satisfaction” whereas for men they are often referred to as “sexual performance.”
No matter how they are referred to, sexual issues mean sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation and talked about or not, it affects millions of men and women worldwide.
There are many factors that lead to sexual dysfunction, such as:
- Lifestyle – sedentary/active, smoking, alcohol use/abuse
- Diet and nutrition
- Other medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, liver disorders, etc.
- Environmental factors – toxins in the air, soil, food, water, clothing, etc.
- Medications
- Age, etc.
At the core of that 10% biology that leads to good health and good sex, are the sexual hormones. And they affect the 90% psychology part as well.
Hormone levels are directly connected to the aging process, but they are affected by all the other factors mentioned above.
Statistics show, about one third of American men over the age of 18 have some kind of sexual dysfunction issue. This goes up to almost half by age 40. This sounds high because men keep this a secret. Men don’t even want to tell their doctors they can’t perform the way they would like.
Prostate issues and low androgens are the main causes for age related sexual performance in men.
With regards to hormones – testosterone and DHEA are the ones that decline with age leading to low sexual desire/libido, that leads to low sexual performance – erectile dysfunction. Many men encounter hormonal decline, particularly as they age. And in most cases, testosterone decline is the leading cause for sexual dysfunction as well as for prostate issues. The most common prostate issue men must deal with, as they age, is BPH (Benign Prostate Hypertrophy), which on its own can be a cause for erectile dysfunction.
That is why when you speak with your health care practitioner about your erectile dysfunction, request a hormonal assessment to see if you need TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) together with your ED medications such as Sildenafil, Tadalafil or Vardenafil. Addressing the hormonal deficiency added to the ED medications will provide better sexual performance for longer period of time.
You can get help with both types of medication by reaching out to one of the doctors at myswink.com
References:
Testosterone Treatment and Sexual Function in Older Men With Low Testosterone Levels
Glenn R. Cunningham, Alisa J. Stephens-Shields, Raymond C. Rosen, Christina Wang, Shalender Bhasin, Alvin M. Matsumoto, J. Kellogg Parsons, Thomas M. Gill, Mark E. Molitch, John T. Farrar ... Show more
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 101, Issue 8, 1 August 2016,
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—ENDOCRINOLOGY
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—ENDOCRINOLOGY: Improvement of Sexual Function in Men with Late-Onset Hypogonadism Treated with Testosterone Only
Author links open overlay panelAksam A.YassinMD, PhD, EdD, FEBU12FaridSaadMD
The Journal of Urology Volume 155, Issue 5, May 1996, Pages 1604-1608
Clinical Urology: Original Article
Improvement of Sexual Function in Testosterone Deficient Men Treated for 1 Year with a Permeation Enhanced Testosterone Transdermal System
Author links open overlay panelS.ArverA.S.DobsA.W.MeikleR.P.AllenS.W.SandersN.A.Mazer
Adult urology
Effect of testosterone supplementation on sexual function in hypogonadal men with erectile dysfunction
Author links open overlay panelJohn PMulhallaRolandoValenzuelabNadidAvivbMarilynParkerb
