Can testosterone replacement therapy cause E.D.?

[TN_Mike]

My Doc has me on Androgel, a testosterone replacement goo that I have to slather on every morning. I hate it and I honestly do not know if it is really doing me any good.

But, I have noticed in the last couple of weeks a decrease in my ability to maintain an erection. Could be just a phase I am going through or could be something worse. I talked to my doc but she just gave me a sample of Levitra. I do not want to have to take a pill for this. I have never had a problem in this area before other than maybe too many erections. My sex drive has not decreased at all, just the ability to maintain an erection.

Has anyone heard of any side effects of testosterone replacement medication alone these lines?

[keith1958]

My Doc has me on Androgel, a testosterone replacement goo that I have to slather on every morning. I hate it and I honestly do not know if it is really doing me any good.

But, I have noticed in the last couple of weeks a decrease in my ability to maintain an erection. Could be just a phase I am going through or could be something worse. I talked to my doc but she just gave me a sample of Levitra. I do not want to have to take a pill for this. I have never had a problem in this area before other than maybe too many erections. My sex drive has not decreased at all, just the ability to maintain an erection.

Has anyone heard of any side effects of testosterone replacement medication alone these lines?

You might want to post this in the correct forum. But here goes anyway. When men start on Androgel or whatever gel there levels go up the body see the testosterone and stops making its own. This brings your levels lower than when you started. Estrogen will raise also and this will cause lower T levels and a host of other problems. It is essential to have a good doctor that knows what they are doing. Far to many doctors give men testosterone and have no knowledge about it. Finding a good doctor is very important because this has side effects.

You might have to apply more gel to make up for the lower levels. You should also have a blood test done after 2 weeks on the Gel. Some men do not absorb the Gel and this too is a problem. I was 1 of those men. I self inject now. There is a lot more to this than taking Testosterone Replacement. It took me 6 months to get all hormones in balance. But well worth it for me. I have had low levels a very long time for medical reasons. Research this a bunch because your going to have to be in carge of your own health and HRT. This is new and not a lot of doctors really know about it. I will give some links to check out, but there is so much more.


Read all the articles this doctor wrote on HRT. This is my doctor. John Crisler is 1 of the better 1's for sure
http://musclechatroom.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2

The forum here at this site

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/forumdisplay.php?f=81

Good luck

[Fifty+]

I have had several conversations with men who have had difficulties with the patch and the gel. One of the differences between the injection and the topicals is that the topicals continue to dump test into your system for days. The injection probably has a different bell curve regarding it's uptake. All of these men complained about hair loss and ED. A couple have switched to injections and have not experienced the same sides..

[keith1958]

I have had several conversations with men who have had difficulties with the patch and the gel. One of the differences between the injection and the topicals is that the topicals continue to dump test into your system for days. The injection probably has a different bell curve regarding it's uptake. All of these men complained about hair loss and ED. A couple have switched to injections and have not experienced the same sides..

DHT goes up with the gels, but estrogen tends to go up more with the injections. I have never had ED since starting HRT. But did have the aborsbing problem from the start, my levels when on the Gel for 2 weeks were lower than before starting, which were low to begin with. I have no hair loss. The hair thing happens to men that have that in there family like their mother's father. High Estrogen will cause loss of sex drive and ED. The only sides I had were Estrogen getting high (I controll this with Supplements now) and high hemoglobin (Blood lettings fixed this). Every man is different thats why a good doctor is so important.

[Fifty+]

DHT goes up with the gels, but estrogen tends to go up more with the injections. I have never had ED since starting HRT. But did have the aborsbing problem from the start, my levels when on the Gel for 2 weeks were lower than before starting, which were low to begin with. I have no hair loss. The hair thing happens to men that have that in there family like their mother's father. High Estrogen will cause loss of sex drive and ED. The only sides I had were Estrogen getting high (I controll this with Supplements now) and high hemoglobin (Blood lettings fixed this).





Every man is different thats why a good doctor is so important.

Agreed. It is important to be monitored.

oldfart

[johnnyironboard]

I read an article not to long ago that said Testim was much better than Androgel according to a study done at the University of Toronto. Either switch or get a 200 mg per week injection(that will make you happy).

[JakeT]

oldfart

LOL, 2 years younger than you. I thinking of trying the compound cream from a compound Pharmacy. My DHT is on the low side and I would like the cream better than the injections I think. As long as they work.

[Fifty+]

LOL, 2 years younger than you. I thinking of trying the compound cream from a compound Pharmacy. My DHT is on the low side and I would like the cream better than the injections I think. As long as they work.

I promote nothing...but, my personal experience would be to suggest that you see a doctor and if all is well, let him give you the injection. It is not painful, not messy and will not get on your clothes. You walk out of the office and you don't have to fool with anything for a week, 10 days or what ever schedule he suggests.

oldfart

[joed]

Mike, I'll mention a totally different topic that may be involved. The ability to keep an erection, and in the future after that to get an erection, can be caused by poor blood flow into the area (& a quick exit out of the vital area). I'm talking about blocked arteries, atherosclerosis. May be something to discuss with your doc.

[Khodiak]

I am a test therapy patient, the only ED I had when I started was the damn thing waking me up every morning. I had (still do a year later) a crazy sex drive much like I did when I had normal test levels. If you are having ED you should get your estrogen levels checks, you may be having some amortization issues going on.

[Xtcme]

I am a test therapy patient, the only ED I had when I started was the damn thing waking me up every morning. I had (still do a year later) a crazy sex drive much like I did when I had normal test levels. If you are having ED you should get your estrogen levels checks, you may be having some amortization issues going on.

May I ask why a man would need such a treatment? I guess I am new to this T thing. Do men stop producing it at a later age?

[Khodiak]

May I ask why a man would need such a treatment? I guess I am new to this T thing. Do men stop producing it at a later age?

Almost all men over 30 start having a decrease in their Testosterone levels. It is part of the aging process, one of the main reasons middle aged men develop mid torso fat, man boobs etc. The estrogen in our bodies take over. You also feel less active, thinking process slows down and lower sex drive. I recommend getting a blood test and have your levels checked if you are over 30.

There are a lot of pros/cons about test therapy, I for one could not imagine going through the rest of my life without normal test levels. I think it saved my marriage and my life by going on testosterone therapy. My insurance carrier pays for most of it as well.

[Xtcme]

Almost all men over 30 start having a decrease in their Testosterone levels. It is part of the aging process, one of the main reasons middle aged men develop mid torso fat, man boobs etc. The estrogen in our bodies take over. You also feel less active, thinking process slows down and lower sex drive. I recommend getting a blood test and have your levels checked if you are over 30.

There are a lot of pros/cons about test therapy, I for one could not imagine going through the rest of my life without normal test levels. I think it saved my marriage and my life by going on testosterone therapy. My insurance carrier pays for most of it as well.

great another thing to worry about, sheesh here I thought I was getting into the best shape of my life at age 39. Now I have to worry about growing Moobs? Sheesh.

[Khodiak]

great another thing to worry about, sheesh here I thought I was getting into the best shape of my life at age 39. Now I have to worry about growing Moobs? Sheesh.

I checked out your profile... you sure made some great changes in less than a year. It took me about a year to get those results... great job!

[Xtcme]

I checked out your profile... you sure made some great changes in less than a year. It took me about a year to get those results... great job!

Hey thanks, yea I was pretty puffy there for awhile. Had health problems and back problems galore. I have actually lost 3% since that picture. I plan on posting every Month.

But yea .thanks. I hope to look like you by next summer!!

[drgary]

My Doc has me on Androgel, a testosterone replacement goo that I have to slather on every morning. I hate it and I honestly do not know if it is really doing me any good.

But, I have noticed in the last couple of weeks a decrease in my ability to maintain an erection. Could be just a phase I am going through or could be something worse. I talked to my doc but she just gave me a sample of Levitra. I do not want to have to take a pill for this. I have never had a problem in this area before other than maybe too many erections. My sex drive has not decreased at all, just the ability to maintain an erection.

Has anyone heard of any side effects of testosterone replacement medication alone these lines?

yes...topical testosterone does work well as many men don't absorb well..on the other hand it can suppress your own bodies production...so it is not uncommon for mens testosterone to decline somewhat on topicals..injections are far more reliable and effective

[Old-Time-Lifter]

yes...topical testosterone does work well as many men don't absorb well..on the other hand it can suppress your own bodies production...so it is not uncommon for mens testosterone to decline somewhat on topicals..injections are far more reliable and effective

Strong Bump.............. LOL

Doubt the op will see this.

[vms4evr]

I posted this in another thread where this discussion came up. I didn't like Androgel and it wasn't much help. My uro put me on Testopel. It's more like implanted than an injection. It is pellets and he makes a small incision and inserts them. They last 3-4 months depending on the person. The yo-yo effect is minimal, my t-level jumped up, estrogen still down, feel much better. Still deal with bouts of ED and it really isn't just a low-t thing. It's partly nerve damage in my case.