Testosterone and ED

[Flavio]

Some men believe that testosterone is a magical solution for ED. High testosterone would result in a healthy erectile function and low testosterone would mean the opposite. The role of testosterone seems to be more complex than that, though.

The normal level of testosterone in your bloodstream is between 350 and 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl). Those quantities start to decline around age 40. You lose about 1 percent a year -- a harmless decline in the short term, but a cause of obesity, brittle bones, muscle loss and impotence by the time you reach your 60s. Men in their 30s and 40s can also have low testosterone counts - a disorder called hypogonadism.

Medications include oral, intramuscular and transdermal agents. Results are usually disappointing: not all patients with ED and a low testosterone level have an improvement in erectile function when treated with exogenous androgen. There could also be some serious side effects: acne, high cholesterol, hypertension, shrunken testicles and liver damage.

[Caravan]

strange, because I figured testosterone would help solve my ED issue, give me some sort of sex drive. I guess not.

[Flavio]

strange, because I figured testosterone would help solve my ED issue, give me some sort of sex drive. I guess not.

Well, I never said that TRT was totally ineffective. I'm just saying that ED is a multifactorial condition and there could be other factors at stake, not just testosterone.

Have you checked your testosterone levels? What did the doctor tell you? Last time I checked, my levels were normal but nothing spectacular.

[Alpine]

This year I discovered I had low testosterone. I tested at 200, very low for the age of 34. I now know that I have hypogonadism.

I have had ed for about 12 years now. I have no clue what happened and if it's tied to my low testosterone levels. I suspect that my testosterone levels started falling 12 years ago, the same time my ed began.

Two months ago I started taking 3 injections of hcg a week to raise my testosterone and for fertility reasons. (Had no sperm count - testes weren't making sperm!)

I was tested a week ago and my testosterone is now 400! However, it hasn't fixed my ed. The only difference that I've noticed is that my sexual experience is much more intense when I finish.

[Nemo]

Alpine, I'm in my late 30s and have been seeing a doctor because my testosterone was testing low (200-300 range). Through a vitamin regimin and treatment for adrenal fatigue he's got my T up into the 500 range now, but my Estradiol seems to be a problem, lower than it should be. E is as important as T it seems. He's talking about putting me on HCG. Can you share your experiences with HCG more in depth? Sex drive, erectile function, etc. ...

Nemo

[Flavio]

[...] Through a vitamin regimin and treatment for adrenal fatigue he's got my T up into the 500 range now, [...]

Thanks for posting, Nemo.

Could you be a bit more specific? What did you take exactly? You didn't take any testosterone injections? Are you happy with the results?

I'm 33 years old and my testosterone levels are in the 500 mark, as well - normal but nothing spectacular. I've been taking an androgen blocker (finasteride) for my hair loss everyday for the last 15 years, so I wasn't expecting brilliant results.

[Nemo]

Sure Flavio. My doctor has me on hydrosortisone tablets for adrenal fatigue, as well as DHEA, Vits C, D, B, E, and fish oil. It's likely that the DHEA is what's gotten my T up around 500, but it's not helping with the low Estradiol. He thinks HCG might do that.

I too was on Finsteride for about 2 years in my late twenties and it caused me to have ED. I had to stop taking it, and I've always wondered if that's not what started my testosterone problems. If I were you, I would cut out the Finesteride - that may do more for your ED than all the other things you're trying - you'll never know until you try.

In all the research I've done, the 500 range is still too low for guys our age - optimal is considered the upper 2/3 of the range, so around 700-800 or so. I hope to get there at some point and see if there's a difference, but as my doctor explains it, low (or high) Estradiol is enough in and of itself to cause ED and low libido.

As a side note, I've had good luck with L-Arginine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Propionyl-L-Carnitine, 2-3 grams of each per day.

Nemo

[Alpine]

Alpine, I'm in my late 30s and have been seeing a doctor because my testosterone was testing low (200-300 range). Through a vitamin regimin and treatment for adrenal fatigue he's got my T up into the 500 range now, but my Estradiol seems to be a problem, lower than it should be. E is as important as T it seems. He's talking about putting me on HCG. Can you share your experiences with HCG more in depth? Sex drive, erectile function, etc. ...

Nemo

Since using HCG, my sex drive is probably just a tad higher than what it was. It hasn't changed all too much. It's difficult for me to compare what the effects of HCG are vs raising the testosterone. I won't find that out until the future when I go on creams and I'm no longer doing this for fertility reasons.

The major differences from just raising my testosterone has been huge: Increased energy. I used to be totally out of energy after an hour or two of activity. Now, I can be active all day and I'm fine. Extreme motivation. Before I had zero. Now, I am always motivated. The depression I had lifted. My memory is probably the biggest area that has been affected. No joke, I used to look in the mirror, and forget what I saw. I had zero memory. I could not think! My thoughts were cloudy and fragmented. Now, I remember things and I can do math in my head. Simple things like that are now much improved.

The only thing I suspect about HCG and its effects are moodiness and fluid retention. My belly size has increased a lot since I started HCG. I have no doubts that I'm retaining fluid, and the little directions slip that comes with your bottles will warn you that it's one possible side effect.

Not sure if that helps you any. If you have any more questions feel free to ask!

[Nemo]

Alpine, are you watching your Estradiol levels? My understanding is that HCG can really boost your Estradiol (E2) levels and this can cause water retention, sore joints, etc. In fact, that's why my doc wants to use it, because my E2 is too low.

Do you know where your E2 levels were or are?

Nemo

[Alpine]

I actually have no idea what Estradiol is. Not sure if mine were tested either.