r/Testosterone • u/Glittering_Wave_1931 • 1d ago

TRT help Erections have gone away since I started using gel

I started using testosterone gel about six months ago, and I feel my erections have diminished as I barely get hard any longer even with using Viagra. I've heard some people say that testosterone makes erectile dysfunction worse.

3 Upvotes
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5

u/Shlomo-7 1d ago

Usually, but not guaranteed causes:

Too high TT
E2 out of range
Prolactin elevated
DHT conversion low

3

u/AggravatingMath717 1d ago

I’ll add that for me I get weird stuff happening whenever I change dose, up or down. However it always levels out just need a little patience and communicate with your partner(s). It’ll be okay as others have said just get your bloodwork done every 3 months at least and monitor these markers above

3

u/Shlomo-7 1d ago

Very true.

2

u/Plus-Suggestion-7141 1d ago

that's rough man. when I started my levels went crazy for first few months and took time for body to adjust. maybe your E2 is spiking or something else is off, worth getting full panel done instead of just guessing

1

u/MRCWISY 1d ago

So sometimes people benefit from lower doses?

2

u/Shlomo-7 1d ago

Absolutely!

2

u/Shlomo-7 1d ago

Just one of many examples here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Testosterone/s/msiErIEsN3

3

u/MRCWISY 23h ago

Would explain why I feel like shit on 250 blast

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 1d ago

But how would I know these things? My general practitioner and three urologists have said nothing to me about this.

2

u/Shlomo-7 1d ago

Bloodwork is step one brother. Ask them to pull

Total testosterone (TT) Measures overall circulating testosterone.
Free testosterone (FT) Estimates the testosterone available to tissues; useful when SHBG is abnormal or symptoms don't match TT.
SHBG Helps interpret total and free testosterone together.
CBC (complete blood count) Monitors hemoglobin and hematocrit for testosterone-associated erythrocytosis.
Sensitive estradiol (E2) Prefer an appropriately validated sensitive assay, typically LC-MS/MS in men, when available.
Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) Checks liver enzymes, kidney function, electrolytes, and other metabolic markers.
Lipid panel Monitors cholesterol and triglycerides and overall cardiovascular risk.
Blood pressure Not a blood test, but an important part of TRT safety monitoring

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 1d ago

I get blood work done every three months

1

u/Shlomo-7 1d ago

If you are not feeling well maybe your doctor can request labs sooner?

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 1d ago

Well, I just don't feel any of my doctors really are doing a good job at all with my health. I have a general practitioner and I am seeing three urologists and none of them are helping my situation.

1

u/Shlomo-7 1d ago

Not saying it is a must but many here who start on gel end up feeling better symptom relief on injections.

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 1d ago

I did use injections before, but that would raise my red blood cells

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 1d ago

I do think I was probably better on injections, but then every six months I would have to have phlebotomy for my high blood cell count

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 1d ago

Can I just stop the testosterone completely and see what happens?

2

u/VexImmortalis 1d ago

You can do whatever you want.

I, however, personally wouldn't just go cold turkey without something to restart my natural production like enclo.

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 1d ago

In July estradiol was Value
<30

2

u/Lutzifere 1d ago

Probably because your E2 is elevated

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 1d ago

In July estradiol was Value
<30

1

u/Lutzifere 23h ago

That was 3 months ago. Test it again. Also prolactin and hematocrit. 

2

u/MightOk3400 1d ago

Who compounded it? What type and strength are you using? Lots of quality problems with compounded testosterone. Some manufacturers are more consistent than others.

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 21h ago

It comes in a box and it says manufactured for Lupin pharmaceuticals manufactured by Lupin Limited it's 20.25 mg per pump 1.62%. I do two pumps a day.

1

u/MightOk3400 18h ago

1.62% is pretty weak. A lot of trt MDs recommend 200mgs of 20% testosterone cream. Hallandale, Empower, or Medquest seem to be real good.

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 17h ago

I was doing two pumps and then three pumps but then they told me to go back to two

2

u/swimming_cold 23h ago

What’s your estrogen at ? That tends to be the first place to look

1

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1

u/Jazzlike_Thanks_1869 19h ago

My DHT conversation on Cream was out of control….

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 17h ago

What is dht conversion? What happened? All I know is I take two pumps from the gel every day that's all my doctors told me.

1

u/BonnetCoach Labs > vibes 17h ago

The trials point the other way. Huo 2016 reviewed 47 TRT studies: about half saw sex improve, the rest saw no gain.

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 17h ago

And that's why I don't know what to do anymore. Whether to stay on it or not.

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 17h ago

I just wish I could get some answers from someone. Reddit helps, but there's still no definitive answers on what I should do.

1

u/BonnetCoach Labs > vibes 1h ago edited 1h ago

yeah that's frustrating. Huo 2016 is the big review of TRT trials, and T alone just isn't a reliable erection fix. some studies saw a bump, plenty saw nothing. so if your levels on the gel are fine, more T probably isn't the answer, and ED that doesn't respond to Viagra needs its own workup. what nobody here can see is your numbers on the gel. a total T and a sensitive E2 drawn while you're on it would show whether it's absorbing and whether E2 crashed. men need some E2 for libido. a urologist who does sexual medicine is who I'd bring those to.

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 1h ago

Is a sensitive e2 different than a regular estrodial teat? I have been to three urologists so how would I find one that focuses on sexual medicine?

1

u/Ghooster38 12h ago

Put the gel on your nuts and youll get boners again.

1

u/thy-Droid 8h ago

Switch to injections.

1

u/Glittering_Wave_1931 7h ago

I was doing injections, but my red blood cells would go up and I would need phlebotomy once or twice a year