Is There a Link Between Low T and ED?
For men suffering from symptoms of erectile dysfunction, confronting a family doctor can be intimidating. Thus, the introduction of telemedicne based consultations has been an important evolution in medicine and technology.
Online doctors allow men to face sexual disorders head on and receive treatment by obtaining an online diagnosis and prescription, rather than hiding it from their spouse and hoping for the best. This has increased the number of sufferers receiving treatment in America substantially.
One of the underlying causes of ED is low testosterone. The hormones in your body play many roles, and when testosterone levels fall it presents in a variety of symptoms, including ED. Here, we'll talk more about ED, Low T, and the connection between them.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is a sexual disorder which prevents a man from achieving or maintaining an erection during arousal and intercourse. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, over 30,000 men in the United States experience erectile dysfunction.
ED can affect men of any age but becomes a higher risk after the age of 40. As you get older ED may become more common or a chronic problem in your sex life. While ED occurs for many reasons, the most common are:
- Age
- Genetics
- Lifestyle choices
- Weight
- Nutrition
- Illness
- Hormones (including testosterone)
Treatment of ED depends on the underlying cause; doctors usually try to treat the cause first and then the symptoms afterwards.
What is Low T?
Low T is a common term for men experiencing low levels of the natural sex hormone, testosterone. At younger ages, testosterone helps males develop. The Urology Care Foundation writes, "During puberty (in the teen years), testosterone helps boys develop male features like body and facial hair, deeper voice, and muscle strength. Men need testosterone to make sperm. Testosterone levels generally decrease with age, so older men tend to have low blood testosterone levels." While hormones naturally deplete with age, there are other reasons testosterone levels could drop.
Symptoms of Low T
If you are experiencing low testosterone, you may not realize it, but chances are, you've noticed the symptoms. Some common symptoms of low T include:
- Hair loss
- Low libido
- Weight gain
- Muscle loss
- Sleep apnea
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased sperm levels
- Low bone density
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anemia
- Excessive Sweating
If you experience one or more of these symptoms it could be due to low T. An online consultation will help you determine the right treatment. At QuickRXRefill, our online diagnosis and prescription service is fulfilled by experienced and certified U.S. based doctors.
Cause of Low T
Most men notice testosterone levels depleting naturally with age. For others, medical reasons such as injury or illness could be at fault. According to Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, "If testosterone is confirmed to be low, it is recommended to categorize the hypogonadism as primary or secondary by checking levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Elevated levels of these hormones would indicate primary testicular failure. Causes include LOH, Klinefelter syndrome, and infectious diseases such as chlamydia- and gonorrhea-associated epididymo-orchitis and mumps."
A thorough diagnosis from your physician will tell you exactly what's causing your low T and how best to treat it.
Blood Test for Low T
One of the ways to diagnose Low T is through a blood test called the Prostate Specific Antigen or PSA test. The National Cancer Institute explains "Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by normal, as well as malignant, cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man's blood. For this test, a blood sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results are usually reported as nanograms of PSA per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood." This test is primarily used to detect prostate cancer but can also tell your doctor other things about your body, such as whether your testosterone levels are lacking.
Another test your doctor might prescribe is the total testosterone test, which measures testosterone levels in your blood. The test counts testosterone attached to proteins, as well as free floating testosterone. This tells your doctor whether levels are abnormally low for your age.
Treatment for Low T
Low T is treated through testosterone replacement therapy or TRT. As the name suggests, this treatment provides your body with the missing testosterone it requires to function normally. Testosterone can be applied in a variety of ways such as:
Topically - Patches and gels are the most common topical treatments for TRT. The patches are used once every 24-hours, while the gels are applied to arms, shoulders, or thighs and rubbed in until absorbed by the skin. It's important that topical treatments are covered so they don't accidentally get applied to other humans or animals you meet.
Internally - It sounds alarming, but pellet treatments for TRT require the insertion of small implants beneath the skin. Normally the pellet is inserted into the skin around the hip and release testosterone slowly over a period up to 6-months.
Injections - Intravenous solutions are a common TRT treatment requiring a shot every week or two-weeks. Doctors are slowly looking to less intense forms of therapy as the initial injection provides such a boost of testosterone it can negatively impact mood for the day following treatment.
Orally - Finally, TRT can be acquired orally through a tablet or pill. Capsules are swallowed and digested. As the casing breaks down and the therapy is exposed it is absorbed into your stomach lining and blood.
Not all TRT treatments are available via telemedicine. You can learn more about which medications are readily offered by signing up for a one on one chat with a U.S. based doctor online today.
Due to the connection between testosterone and libido, TRT can drastically improve symptoms of ED. For more information on online diagnosis and prescriptions, or to learn more about low T and its impact on ED, we invite you to contact us at QuickRXRefill.
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