Erectile dysfunction is the condition that doctors used to refer to as impotence. Erectile dysfunction or ED is defined as a chronic inability to get or maintain an erection satisfactory enough to engage in intercourse.
There can be many physical as well as emotional causes of ED. ED can happen to men at any age. The good news is that men with ED no longer have to suffer in silence, be embarrassed, or accept ED as a normal part of aging. There are more effective treatments for ED available now than ever before.
Can You Get ED at Any Age?
You can get ED at any age, but problems with getting an erection do become more prevalent the older you get. Just because problems getting or maintaining an erection seem to increase with age, that is not to say that aging causes ED. Rather it is many of the underlying conditions that come with getting older that could increase sexual performance issues.
The chances of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions increase as men age – all of these kinds of issues impact sexual health. The older you get, the more likely you are to experience stress and other emotional difficulties that can influence ED.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, two critical hormones vital to your ability to gain and sustain an erection – testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH) both decline as you age.
What Are the Causes of ED?
ED is a complex condition with many possible causes. There can be emotional issues that lead to ED, such as stress, anxiety, and nervousness about engaging in sex. Relationship issues such as the excitement of a new relationship or the drudgery of a very long one – could lead to ED.
Of course, there are any number of physical issues that can cause ED. Physical issues that can lead to ED include:
- Vascular diseases such as heart disease or high blood pressure
- Metabolic conditions such as diabetes or metabolic syndrome
- Some forms of cancer
- Disease or injury to the testis or penis
- Peyronie’s disease
- Hormone imbalances
- Sleep apnea
- Obesity
- Kidney disorders
- Certain prescription medications
There can also be lifestyle or behavior issues that can cause or influence ED
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol use
- Certain recreational drugs
Who is More at Risk of Getting Erectile Dysfunction?
Any man at any time is at risk of getting ED from time to time. Occasional problems with ED will probably affect every man at one time or another. However, older men, and particularly men who are obese, or have been diagnosed with low testosterone, heart disease, or diabetes, are at the greatest risk of developing chronic problems with ED.
How do I Know if I Have Erectile Dysfunction?
Occasional ED is common. Studies have found that almost 50% of all men have had an issue with ED at some point in their adult lives. However, if you find that you cannot get an erection no matter how you are stimulated, or you cannot get an erection that is hard enough or lasts long enough to enjoy a satisfying sexual encounter for you or your partner, then you have an issue with ED that probably requires medical help.
Hormones and Your Sex Life – Is There a Connection?
Testosterone is known as the male sex hormone for a reason. Not only is testosterone critical for all of the characteristics that make a person male, such as the development of male genitalia, deeper voice, facial and body hair – it also plays a major role in sexual performance.
Directly, testosterone is necessary for an erection as it is a precursor to nitric oxide production and nitric oxide is what causes blood vessels in the penis to open and fill with blood, which is essential to getting an erection.
Testosterone is one of the hormones also involved with maintaining your sex drive or libido.
But in addition, testosterone is indirectly important to other aspects of your health that influence your ability to enjoy active and healthy sex life. Low testosterone can cause tiredness, obesity, circulatory issues, sleep problems, anxiety, and depression – all of which can lead to ED.
Human growth hormone is another critical hormone that influences libido and sexual performance in men.
Both of these hormones decline as men age. This kind of age-related hormone deficiency can cause a number of health issues in men over 40, collectively known as “andropause,” not the least of which is erectile dysfunction.
The good news is at HFM, we have created hormone replacement therapy programs for men specially designed to treat andropause.
Can HRT in HFM Clinic Cure Erectile Dysfunction?
At the HFM clinic, we do not like to speak of “cures” for erectile dysfunction or any of the conditions we treat with hormone replacement therapy, for that matter. However, we do know that we can use hormone replacement therapies (HRT) to treat and manage your issues with ED, and you will achieve remarkable results and significant improvements in your ability to get and maintain an erection.
In fact, even men who were not necessarily having problems in the bedroom say that one of the very first improvements they see when starting testosterone and/or growth hormone therapy at our clinic is an improvement in their ability to get stronger and more sustainable erections.
Our testosterone and HGH therapy programs for sexual health issues will not only significantly improve your ability to achieve an erection, but you will also likely see an improvement in your sex drive or libido. HRT has even proven to be helpful for men with premature ejaculation and other sexual performance issues.
You may know that hormone replacement therapy for men – particularly testosterone therapy – is available in a variety of forms such as pills, creams, gels, and patches, as well as injections. While we can make all of these options available to you, our doctors have found that HGH or testosterone injections are the safest and most effective ways to administer HRT for men.
In particular, for men who are having hormone-related ED issues, testosterone injections seem to be the quickest and most effective.
How Long Does it Take to See the Results?
If you are diagnosed with an age-related growth hormone deficiency, you will be put on a program of HRT for about six months. Over the course of those six months, you will see remarkable results; however, almost all of our patients see improvements in erectile function and sex drive within the first six to eight weeks of treatment.
How Do I Get Started With HRT at HFM?
Before you can get started with HRT for ED at our clinic, you will have to have a complete physical exam, and your hormones tested to rule out any other causes for your ED and other symptoms. If you are indeed found to have low testosterone or age-related growth hormone deficiency, you will be prescribed a program of testosterone injections, HGH injections, or both.
Conclusion
It may sound odd to say this, but we are living in a great time for men with erectile dysfunction. Thanks to the introduction of Viagra and similar drugs, we have more treatments for ED than ever before. However, not all men can take these drugs. In fact, if your ED is being caused by low testosterone, chances are you have other underlying conditions that put you in the very category of men who cannot take oral ED medications.
For such men, and most men, in fact, hormone replacement therapy has been proven to be a very safe and effective way to treat ED and other sexual health issues men face as they get older.
Stop thinking that a decreased sex drive and erectile dysfunction are just “part of growing old.” HRT for men can help you enjoy the sex life you deserve at almost any age!
HFM Clinic
Having troubles with erectile dysfunction? Contact our endocrinologists to find the root causes of this condition and get the best treatment.
