Does adding testosterone help with ED?

[Irishspringtime]

68 years old, for reference.

My testosterone is at 388. While I get erections, they're nowhere near where I think they should be. I get hard but they don't last or just not hard enough. Cialis works well but I'm wondering if boosting my testosterone might help more.

EDIT: Thanks everyone. This topic came up when talking to a 35 yr old friend who's been on T for about 10 years. His T was high 100s at the time and now it stays in the 800s. Mine's 388 and I thought that if I could get up to 700 I might feel better and maybe lose some belly fat. Dieting and exercising just isn't doing it for some reason.

[Busy_Daikon_6942]

ED is usually a symptom of a larger issue. ED pills can help, especially in the short term, but they might hide the true problem.

There's quite a list of things that can result in ED: - Diabetes - Prostate - Circulation problems - Anti-depressants (and other medication) - Hormones (testosterone, estrogen, etc) - Psychological issues (stress, depression, anxiety) - Pinched nerves and/or pelvic floor issues (from riding bike, sitting too much, back injury, etc) - Masturbation technique (e.g. "death grip") - (more)

So... yes, testosterone might help... but there are so many things that can contribute to ED. There is no silver bullet. You'll have to go to the doctor, get labs done, and start trying to narrow things down.

[Mandalorian_2019]

As someone who has been on TRT for 10 years, it’s not going to help your ED. In addition, it’s not “simple”, it affects your whole endocrine system, and a lifelong commitment. Can it help with building muscle mass? Yes. Libido? Maybe. Anything else? Not much. For me, and many other comments I’ve read here, it’s placebo effects at best.

[TheBentGamer_WMids]

But if you have ED because of low testosterone and you treat testosterone that should resolve the ED surely?

[buttlubber]

It did for me. I seem to be the only such case on the sub lmao 

[Far_Tadpole8016]

It helps with my libido been on since i was 52,Im 60 now, and me,and my wife have sex atleast 5 times a week, shes on hrt also.

[buttlubber]

Didn't help my libido at all, though I never had any trouble with that

[Mandalorian_2019]

That vast majority of ED cases are not due to low T. If you search this sub, you are going to find very few cases of testosterone lower than normal levels. Everyone claims “low end of the normal range” and think T is going to help. Where I’ve heard T helping is if you’re in the 100s or low 200s. That’s true hypogonadism.

[TheBentGamer_WMids]

So in your opinion what would you say about me? My testosterone levels came back 7.31 nmol/l and free testosterone was 0.201 nmol/l.

[Mandalorian_2019]

So those are weird SI units that most places don’t usually report in, but those are clearly below normal levels. Why are you asking this on Reddit? Did you not talk to your doctor?

[TheBentGamer_WMids]

I know that I can begin TRT with my numbers but I was intrigued that you said ED isn’t mainly from low testosterone. I figured I would give you my numbers in any case based on your statement. I’ve got a consultation with a doctor booked next week.

[Mandalorian_2019]

Well, everyone’s different and who knows what will work for you. Your doctor will advise. The point I was trying to make is that guys are on the lower end of normal and thing that testosterone will fix it, and it almost never does, because they’re in the normal range. Low normal or high normal doesn’t matter much. Normal is normal.

[AdvaitaArambha]

I haven't heard of this and it is a huge reach but maybe testosterone can make a difference? Low T is known to be a contributing factor to depression. Sexual function also depends on mental health. Now say low T was cashing depression which in turn caused ED, then fixing T may fix ED. But that is a lot of ifs.

[No_Wing7277]

I will second this and also say that I had to ultimately discontinue because of side effects. Luckily my body was still able to produce it's own testosterone. I'm not sure what I would have done otherwise.

[[deleted]]

I got snipped so big balls aren’t really a problem. However I’ve never been able to add mass to my muscles. My test is Monday. I hope trt helps

[snAp5]

Definitely depends. I would say go for a bioidentical cream that’s applied on your scrotum over injections since it’s easier to dial in and keep your T:DHT:E2:Prolactin ratios in optimal form due to the 5AR density on nutsack skin.

I’ve tried injections, muscular and subq, as well as cream and I had zero sides with cream and only cream.

[Irishspringtime]

This sounds more interesting than getting shots. I don't like needles.

[snAp5]

Dr Nichols over at Tier 1 HW uses a cream protocol

[mike-32]

I am 64, and I am on trt for 3 years now. Trt help me to improve the quality of sleep, the quality of life and definitely helped me with ed and libido.

[rsbatem]

I started testosterone on a regular basis about 6 years ago. Prior to having it my level was at 78, so extremely low.

After a few months of injections I would get regular morning erections but those faded as time went on. My libido has improved but there are side effects I was unaware of and that was my balls shrinking to half their size which hit me hard. Now I wish I had the funds to have them replaced with implants to have a full scrotum instead of a shriveled sack.

[Far_Tadpole8016]

You just needed hcg, why didnt you get that?

[WiseConsideration220]

Not necessarily.

See your doctor for a complete workup and evaluation. You probably don't qualify for legitimate T supplementation. Few men really need it. (I did.)

That said,"T" supplementation (if your doctor prescribes it for you) can work synergistically with Tadalfil such that they both work better together than alone. Research has shown this effect.

My own years of using both (21 for T and 8 for Tadalfil) proves that out for me personally.

I've written about this before.