Author:Zhang Jiong(Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital)
It is well known that men have male charisma thanks to the presence of a male hormone (testosterone) in the body. So if a man has erectile dysfunction, is it because of a lack of androgens in the body?
In fact, testosterone is not the only motivation for maintaining male libido and sexual behavior, and low testosterone levels may cause decreased libido and erectile dysfunction, but this is not always the case.
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1. Decreased testosterone levels may affect libido, but individuals vary greatly
Scientists have yet to solve the mystery of exactly how testosterone enhances libido. It is normal for men's sexual desire to peak from around the age of 20 and then slowly decline, but sexual desire varies greatly among men. With the same testosterone levels, some men may have low libido, while others have a strong libido.
In addition, each man's libido gradually changes and is affected by stress, sleep, and frequency of intercourse. For the reasons mentioned above, it is almost impossible to define "normal" sexual desire. Men themselves usually see a lack of sexual desire as a problem, and sometimes it is the female partner who thinks that the man is in trouble.
Symptoms caused by low levels of testosterone do not include more than just a lack of libido. Some men can maintain their libido even when testosterone levels are relatively low, while some men have decreased libido even when testosterone levels are normal. However, low testosterone levels are one of the possible causes of low libido, in addition to stress, sleep deprivation, depression, and chronic diseases that can also cause decreased libido.
But if testosterone levels drop significantly, almost all men will experience symptoms of decreased libido to a greater or lesser degree.
2. Decreased testosterone levels rarely affect erectile function
Surprisingly, low levels of testosterone itself rarely cause erectile dysfunction. If there are no other diseases, low levels of testosterone itself can only cause erection problems in a very small percentage of men.
Erectile dysfunction is usually caused by atherosclerosis, and if the arteries are damaged, the tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the penis no longer dilate, thus not providing sufficient blood flow for a stiff erection. Diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and high cholesterol are the four main causes of atherosclerosis and erectile dysfunction.
At the same time, low testosterone levels are a common accomplice to erectile dysfunction caused by atherosclerosis. Studies have shown that about one-third of men who mention erectile dysfunction to their doctors have low testosterone levels. Experts believe that among men who have other factors contributing to erectile dysfunction, low testosterone levels can make the situation more serious.
Low testosterone levels are in part associated with a number of disorders that contribute to erectile dysfunction:
Metabolic syndrome
corpulent
Endothelial dysfunction
diabetes
Low testosterone levels are not currently certain to be responsible for these disorders, but there is a clear association between them.
Testosterone replacement therapy can improve libido and sexual satisfaction in some men. However, the long-term risks and benefits of testosterone replacement therapy have yet to be studied in depth. Clinical trials of testosterone replacement therapy for men are currently underway, but it will be a long time before a final conclusion is reached.
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