It seems the medical literature is not conclusive on what role Testosterone actually plays on erection quality. Typical theory according to one school of thought as per below. Anyone know any better?
Most websites seem to just state that testosterone has a role in sex drive. They also state that PDE 5 inhibitors help with maintaining erections but won't help with sex drive.
This is not my experience. With a natural TT of around 300ish if I get a good pill of cialis (or viagra) the dick and balls feel a little fuller. Spontaneous erections happen where they did not without taking the pill. Erection quality is near normal where it was poor before. In turn I feel like sex more due to better erections. So I don't get the PDE 5's not helping with sex drive.
Also if not taking PDE5 inhibitors together with times when erections are poor this then coincides with my ball sack/dick feeling cold - this must simply be a lack of blood flow to this area but when getting a good pill of cialis etc the balls/dick are fuller and warmer lol - anyone else experience this sensation? specifically related to guys who have experienced low T of course (should be most of us on here). Does Testosterone have the same effect i.e. balls and dick feel fuller/warmer (due to more blood flow to that area) with TRT?
My theory is either that the cialis (or similar) - through increasing blood flow to the testicles - increases testosterone production and this may increase sex drive OR it is just simply a matter of increasing blood flow to the penis and in turn better erections which 'awakens the brain' for sex. Maybe a bit of both?
As for testosterone I don't believe it has no effect on erection quality (i.e. only sex drive) since many people who are low T who then take TRT therapy quite often get good erections without even needing PDE5's inhibitors. Testosterone is also known to be a vasodilator.
Unfortunately this means a lot of dumb ass doctors see people who are roughly 300 TT (with low -normal free T) and think increasing testosterone from there won't help improve erections. I really wish the medical community can make more breakthroughs with knowledge in this area so that us guys can be given the appropriate treatment without all the bullshit theories and hassle that goes with trying to get treatment for this condition.
"Role of Testosterone
Testosterone is also well known for its role in the normal development of penile tissue and early male sexual characteristics during puberty, including penis growth. However, a low level of testosterone is also one of the factors which can lead to erectile dysfunction. Erections arise from two mechanisms: reflex or emotional stimuli. Both involve a fairly complex set of events which are regulated to some degree by testosterone. Adequate levels of testosterone are required for a healthy erectile system. Testosterone appears to synchronize the erection process by stimulating the production of nitric oxide at the beginning of the erection and also stimulating the production of PDE-5 which leads to the end of an erection. One study show that America’s increasing obesity problem is also connected to testosterone. Men who are obese have lower levels of testosterone resulting in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002175/ and increasing their chances of erectile dysfunction.
Some studies indicate that it determines the frequency of night time erections or near erections and also have morphine like effect on the brain (the sense of an orgasm). As testosterone declines normally with age, the frequency of erections decreases further demonstrate the role of testosterone in the erection process. One study demonstrated that lower levels of testosterone results in impaired relaxations of muscles of the penis which means a decreased chance of having an erection. Hence, erections are clearly dependent on normal levels of testosterone."
Most websites seem to just state that testosterone has a role in sex drive. They also state that PDE 5 inhibitors help with maintaining erections but won't help with sex drive.
This is not my experience. With a natural TT of around 300ish if I get a good pill of cialis (or viagra) the dick and balls feel a little fuller. Spontaneous erections happen where they did not without taking the pill. Erection quality is near normal where it was poor before. In turn I feel like sex more due to better erections. So I don't get the PDE 5's not helping with sex drive.
Also if not taking PDE5 inhibitors together with times when erections are poor this then coincides with my ball sack/dick feeling cold - this must simply be a lack of blood flow to this area but when getting a good pill of cialis etc the balls/dick are fuller and warmer lol - anyone else experience this sensation? specifically related to guys who have experienced low T of course (should be most of us on here). Does Testosterone have the same effect i.e. balls and dick feel fuller/warmer (due to more blood flow to that area) with TRT?
My theory is either that the cialis (or similar) - through increasing blood flow to the testicles - increases testosterone production and this may increase sex drive OR it is just simply a matter of increasing blood flow to the penis and in turn better erections which 'awakens the brain' for sex. Maybe a bit of both?
As for testosterone I don't believe it has no effect on erection quality (i.e. only sex drive) since many people who are low T who then take TRT therapy quite often get good erections without even needing PDE5's inhibitors. Testosterone is also known to be a vasodilator.
Unfortunately this means a lot of dumb ass doctors see people who are roughly 300 TT (with low -normal free T) and think increasing testosterone from there won't help improve erections. I really wish the medical community can make more breakthroughs with knowledge in this area so that us guys can be given the appropriate treatment without all the bullshit theories and hassle that goes with trying to get treatment for this condition.
"Role of Testosterone
Testosterone is also well known for its role in the normal development of penile tissue and early male sexual characteristics during puberty, including penis growth. However, a low level of testosterone is also one of the factors which can lead to erectile dysfunction. Erections arise from two mechanisms: reflex or emotional stimuli. Both involve a fairly complex set of events which are regulated to some degree by testosterone. Adequate levels of testosterone are required for a healthy erectile system. Testosterone appears to synchronize the erection process by stimulating the production of nitric oxide at the beginning of the erection and also stimulating the production of PDE-5 which leads to the end of an erection. One study show that America’s increasing obesity problem is also connected to testosterone. Men who are obese have lower levels of testosterone resulting in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002175/ and increasing their chances of erectile dysfunction.
Some studies indicate that it determines the frequency of night time erections or near erections and also have morphine like effect on the brain (the sense of an orgasm). As testosterone declines normally with age, the frequency of erections decreases further demonstrate the role of testosterone in the erection process. One study demonstrated that lower levels of testosterone results in impaired relaxations of muscles of the penis which means a decreased chance of having an erection. Hence, erections are clearly dependent on normal levels of testosterone."
