Can Testosterone Boosters Help With ED? (Science Based)

Erectile dysfunction is usually caused by low blood circulation in the penis. And here are some of the causes:

Physical causes of ED

There are physical causes of ED, which include:

• Vascular diseases- atherosclerosis, narrow blood vessels, and restricted blood flow in the penis [2].
• Chronic disorders- diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and prostate cancer [3].
• Neurological conditions- multiple sclerosis, because the nerve signals can’t be transferred to reproductive organs [4].
• Poor lifestyle habits, such as obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption anddrug addiction
• Certain medications can also cause ED

Psychological causes of ED

Emotional or mental health problems can cause ED as well.

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Depression
• Relational problems

Here are natural alternatives that help erectile dysfunction:

1. Healthy Diet

Poor lifestyle habits may also lead to ED, and that includes an unhealthy diet. Eating certain foods that improve vascular health may also be good for erection problems, and some even improve sexual performance.

Experts also recommend avoiding high-cholesterol foods that affect blood circulation, contributing to ED [6].

"Dietary cholesterol and saturated fat, which clog arteries, also impact blood circulation in the penis. So keep an eye on what you eat. High cholesterol is certainly one of the primary causes of ED. It seems to effect on erectile tissue."

— Irwin Goldstein, MD, Director of Sexual Medicine at Alvarado Hospital

Some of the recommended food sources include:

• Leafy green vegetables
• Oysters and other shellfish
• Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids
• Pistachios
• Dark chocolate

2. Regular Exercise

Doing even a 30-min of cardio exercise a day, three to four times a week can help improve your cardiovascular health.

Improving your cardio health also means improving the circulation within your body, which potentially helps erection dysfunction.

Related: Best Testosterone-Boosting Exercises

3. Minimizing Stress

Stress and anxiety can interrupt the neural connection between the brain and reproductive organs and prevent blood flow, resulting in erectile dysfunction [7].

Some stress-management techniques are meditation, deep breathing, & yoga. It's also recommended to seek help to cope with stress, such as going through therapy.

Making lifestyle changes can be an effective remedy to ED, but making these changes takes time and effort.

Depending on the cause of the ED, in some cases, patients may need medications or other treatments. It's always best to talk to your doctor first and find a treatment that works for you.

Oral drugs (PDE-5 inhibitors)

If natural remedies don’t work, there are also oral medications available for ED.

However, I don’t recommend taking any medication without consulting a healthcare professional first. I have not tested these drugs, so this is for informational purposes only.

Based on our research, there are four oral medications commercially available in the U.S. called PDE-5 inhibitors:

• Sildenafil (Viagra)
• Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
• Tadalafil (Cialis)
• Avanafil (Stendra)

They are called PDE-5 inhibitors because they block PDE5, an enzyme in the blood vessels. Blocking PDE5 relaxes the arteries, causing increased blood circulation in the penis [9].

These medications are generally safe to take. However, if you're taking nitrates (chest pain medications), you should NOT take any of these PDE-5 inhibitors.

Some of the side-effects of PDE-5 inhibitors include:

• Headache
• Flushing
• Visual abnormalities
• Stuffy nose
• Indigestion

Testosterone Replacement Therapy and ED

Your doctor will recommend testosterone therapy if the causes of ED are low testosterone and low sex drive. Testosterone treatment may help improve erections among hypogonadal men (men who can’t produce a normal range of testosterone) when it’s combined with PDE-5 inhibitors [10].

Testosterone treatment comes in many forms, such as gels, skin patches, and intramuscular injections.

While it's true that testosterone treatment has multiple benefits, including having less fat and more muscle or increased sexual function.

But, having higher testosterone levels also comes with potential side effects, such as:

• Acne and other skin irritations [11]
• Decreased sperm production [12]
• Increased urination [13]
• Enlargement of the breast [14]
• Decreased testicular size [15]
• Increased aggressive behaviors [16]
• Potentially worsen sleep apnea (severe sleep disorder) [17]

Testosterone replacement therapy can be beneficial for those with low testosterone levels. So, have your doctor run a blood test first to measure your T levels before buying any testosterone replacement therapy.