Chapter 10 Testosterone and erectile dysfunction
Aksam A. Yassin,
Ahmed I. El-Sakka and
Farid Saad
- • Severe hypogonadism in men usually results in loss of libido and potency, which can be restored by androgen administration.
- • The original insights into the mechanisms of action of androgens on sexual function indicated that androgens mainly exert effects on libido.
- • Testosterone appears to have profound effects on tissues of the penis involved in the mechanism of erection.
- • Testosterone deficiency impairs the anatomical and physiological/biochemical substrate of erectile capacity, which is reversible upon androgen treatment.
- • Androgen deprivation in humans results in low sexual desire or libido, impaired erectile function and alteration in penile composition and size.
- • The administration of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors is not always sufficient to restore erectile potency, and the administration of testosterone improves the therapeutic response of these inhibitors considerably.
- • Low levels of testosterone are closely related to manifestations of other aetiological factors in erectile dysfunction, such as atherosclerotic disease and diabetes mellitus.
