Viagra And Testosterone May Not Help Your Erectile Dysfunction

Viagra is a well-established name in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. There have been many studies conducted in the past which have found that sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, benefits the patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. But it has also been noted that around one-quarter to one-third of patients who have erectile dysfunction, also have a low level of testosterone.

Based on this finding, more and more physicians have started prescribing testosterone in addition to Viagra, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, until now, no study was conducted to see whether giving testosterone in conjunction with sildenafil, provided any added benefit to the patients of erectile dysfunction.

The present study was led by Dr. Matthew Spitzer from the Boston University School of Medicine. He, along with his colleagues, recruited 140 men suffering from erectile dysfunction and low testosterone levels, for their study. All the men were between the ages of 40 and 70. They were prescribed Viagra in the dose of 50 to 100 milligrams for three to seven weeks and they were asked to rate their erectile response on the erectile function domain (EFD) of the International Index of Erectile Function.

A normal man, with no erectile dysfunction scores 30 on the EFD. An EFD score of 17 to 21denotes mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, whereas a score of 11 to 16 is considered moderate dysfunction. Administration of Viagra alone was accompanied with a significant improvement in the EFD score. On an average the score improved from 12.1 to 19.8.

After giving Viagra alone for a few weeks, the participants were randomly divided into two groups. While the first group was given 10-gof testosterone daily through a transdermal gel for a period of 14 weeks, the second group received a placebo. After the study period, the EFD scores of the two groups were compared. It was seen that the EFD score did not show any significant change in either of the groups. The findings remained the same irrespective of whether the participants were obese, men with lower levels of testosterone at the start of the study, or they showed an inadequate response to Viagra.

The only drawback of the study was that researchers did not study the effect of testosterone alone in patients of erectile dysfunction.

Viagra Leads To An Improvement In The Levels Of Testosterone

Researchers say that Viagra not only benefits patients with erectile dysfunction but can also lead to an improvement in the levels of testosterone. Therefore, it may also benefit men with low sex drive.

Adding testosterone on top of Viagra does not make any difference in a man’s sexual desire, orgasm or frequency of intercourse. Moreover, it is a costly affair. While a tablet of Viagra costs between $15 and $10, a month’s supply of testosterone may cost around $350, depending upon the daily dose. Using a testosterone gel for a prolonged period may also result in headache, high blood pressure and skin irritation in certain individuals.

However, physicians who favor the use of testosterone argue that testosterone alone can boost sexual functioning. Especially in cases where the patient has low testosterone and is not very responsive to Viagra, testosterone can play an important role. Moreover, it has other benefits like improving the body strength and composition. Testosterone plays an important role in the treatment of androgen insufficiency and hypogonadism.  

Experts have opined that there is no therapy which will benefit all the patients of androgen deficiency or erectile dysfunction. Each case is different from the other and the key lies in personalized therapy for every individual.

Viagra is the first oral medication that can be used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction of various etiologies- organic, psychogenic or mixed. Ever since its launch in the US in April 1998, Viagra has won regulatory approval in more than 110 countries. More than 15 million patients worldwide have benefitted from it through about 45 million prescriptions.

The main advantages of taking Viagra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction include its efficacy, its ease of use and a good tolerability with very few side effects. Moreover, it has a positive impact on the patient’s quality of life. Upon administration, it is rapidly absorbed by the body and reaches its peak plasma concentration within 30 to 120 minutes.  It is recommended in a dose of 25, 50 or 100 milligrams to be taken approximately 1 hour before sexual activity.

Side effects of sildenafil

The side effects of sildenafil are usually transient and minor in nature. Some of the common side effects seen with Viagra therapy include headache in 19% cases, flushing in 14% cases, dyspepsia in 6% cases and nasal congestion in 4% cases. 5.5% of the subjects complain of visual symptoms after taking Viagra.

Critics of Viagra say that though the drug is effective in treating erectile dysfunction, many people are using it to combat low libido. Though drugs like Viagra increase the blood flow to the penis, the true cause of decreased libido remains untreated. Many a times, the real issue behind decreased libido and erectile dysfunction is low level of testosterone. The levels of testosterone start declining by the time men hit their thirties. Giving testosterone in such cases not only improves libido and erectile response, it also helps in improving the energy levels, mood, sleep and overall health of men.

Thus, we see that there are proponents and critics of both Viagra and testosterone. It is very difficult to predict which medicine will work for a particular individual. The key lies in discussing your problems threadbare with your physician and leave it to him to decide what treatment would be ideal in your condition.