Low T & Erectile Dysfunction
The causes of ED
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION HAS MANY CAUSES
If you have low testosterone, this means that your testosterone hormone has fallen below a normal threshold. When testosterone levels drop, your libido may decrease, and it may affect your sex life. You may also develop erectile dysfunction (ED). Men with ED have trouble getting or maintaining an erection, which impacts their ability to have sex.
Low testosterone isn’t the only cause of ED. More commonly, the cause of erectile dysfunction is a reduction of blood flow to the penis. This can be caused by chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hardening of the arteries. Other causes of erectile dysfunction can be psychological, such as anxiety, depression, or other relationship issues. Other causes can be chronic back pain, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, or other neurological conditions.
THE LINK BETWEEN LOW T AND ED
Research is still ongoing about how testosterone impacts erections. Studies suggest that erections are dependent on testosterone levels. Some men have healthy erections despite testosterone levels well below the normal range. Studies have also illustrated that low testosterone levels are linked to a number of the same chronic conditions that play a role in erectile dysfunction, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.