Impotence and erectile dysfunction are usually used interchangeably. But, the main difference between the two is that the former is a broader term that includes other health issues aside from the difficulty of keeping an erection during sex, which signifies the latter.
A person is considered impotent if he is not capable of maintaining or achieving an erection or ejaculating consistently. This condition is both a physical and emotional disorder affecting around 30 million people in the US. And the risk of impotence also increases as people age.
It is very crucial to understand impotence because of its detrimental effects on your entire well-being, especially on your sex life. Aside from that, it can contribute to stress, low self-esteem, and depression, which can greatly affect your daily activities.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Probably, if you have low levels of testosterone, your sex hormones will most likely drop below normal. If that happens, then your sex life will be greatly affected. And this will eventually lead you to develop erectile dysfunction (ED).
Well, low testosterone levels are not the only reason why someone is suffering from ED. In fact, there are a number of causes such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries. But the main reason for this is because of reduced blood flow to the penis.
Other possible causes of ED are psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. So are chronic back pain, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions.
Causes of Low Libido
Testosterone can increase your libido and vice versa. Indeed, it is normal for the sex drive to decline as you age. But libido is not the same for all men. In fact, sex drive varies every time as it is affected by sleep, stress, and sex opportunities.
The symptoms of low testosterone do not really depend on your sex drive. In fact, some men have high sexual desires even if they have low levels of testosterone. Other men have lagged libido even if they have normal levels of testosterone. And yes, low levels of testosterone is just one of the causes of low libido.
The Link Between Low Testosterone and Erectile Dysfunction
Although the connection between the two is complicated, one thing is for sure, and that is the dependence of erection to testosterone. It is worth noting that some men with low testosterone levels also have healthy erections. It means that low testosterone levels may or may not affect impotence.
Then again, it is clear that low levels of testosterone are connected to various chronic diseases that play a vital role in ED such as obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
As already mentioned, the usual cause of erection problems is the hardening of the arteries. Once they are damaged, the penis cannot have a firm erection probably because the blood vessels can no longer dilate. Aside from high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes as the main causes of ED, low levels of testosterone is usually an accomplice to cause the same.
Will Testosterone Replacement Therapy Help in ED?
If you have a normal testosterone level, having a testosterone replacement therapy could not help in treating your ED. Instead, you need to find the main cause of your ED.
Actually, testosterone replacement therapy is useful to restore your sex drive, especially if you have low levels of testosterone. According to reports, men who undergo testosterone replacement therapy experienced an improved erection, but they still need ED drugs such as tadalafil, avanafil, vardenafil, and sildenafil.
These drugs are capable of increasing the blood flow to the penis. But these drugs are not effective for men who already have low levels of testosterone without undergoing testosterone replacement therapy.
Probably, the treatment of low levels of testosterone can help in improving your sex life by brightening your mood as well as by restoring your libido. These will more likely result in renewing your sex interest.
Testosterone replacement therapy can also help men with low testosterone against risks for ED by increasing insulin sensitivity, reducing belly fat, and lowering the risk for diabetes.
Other studies have shown that testosterone replacement therapy for men with low testosterone levels can shield you against various heart health issues. But it is worth noting not to take high doses of testosterone as it can worsen heart diseases.
It is always a good idea to seek help from your doctor. Usually, your doctor will recommend you to undergo a trial testosterone replacement therapy to determine whether or not it is effective in boosting your erection and in improving other symptoms of low testosterone level as applied to you.
Aside from testosterone replacement therapy, it is also an excellent idea to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise to maintain your levels of testosterone. Also, some supplements like Male UltraCore proved to be very efficient. Both diet and exercise can help improve your libido as well as ED.
Conclusion
Impotence will greatly affect not just your sex life, but also your self-esteem. But the good news is that ED can be treated. There are natural ways to treat ED, such as lifestyle changes.
But since low testosterone levels are linked to impotence, it is crucial to look unto your testosterone level. Probably, improving your testosterone levels can help in avoiding impotence. Moreover, impotence does not really mean sex drive. It may be a sign of various health problems so you should seek help with your doctor.
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