Hormones
Testosterone is important in the development of the unborn male foetus and in the growth and development of the genitals and other sexual characteristics around puberty. In the mature man, it plays a role in maintaining sexual desire and affects nerve signalling within the brain and nervous system. However, a lack of testosterone alone is only very rarely the cause of ED. In such cases, the man will usually notice a marked reduction in sexual desire and an absence of night-time or early morning erections. However, this has not stopped testosterone being widely promoted as a treatment for ED and a range of other conditions by unscrupulous or poorly informed (or both) outlets.
The Internet allows such uncontrolled advertising on a wide scale and anyone who uses email regularly will probably be familiar with unsolicited ‘spam’ messages promoting this type of treatment and its availability by mail order. Taking unnecessary testosterone is potentially harmful – it can adversely affect cholesterol levels or accelerate the growth of a pre-existing prostate cancer for example, so should be strictly avoided. Your doctor can check whether a lack of testosterone is a problem.
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