Hormonal therapy for erection problems

Examples

testosterone cypionate Depo-Testosterone Virilon IM testosterone enanthate Andryl Arderone

These medications are given as an injection every 2 to 3 weeks.

testosterone Androderm AndroGel Testoderm transdermal

Androderm and Testoderm contain testosterone in a patch that is placed on the skin. AndroGel is a gel that is applied in specific amounts to the arms, legs, shoulders, or upper abdomen. The medication is then absorbed through the skin.

bromocriptine mesylate Parlodel cabergoline Dostinex

These medications can be used to treat men who have high prolactin levels, which can reduce the amount of testosterone produced by the body and may lead to problems such as infertility or erection problems. Bromocriptine and cabergoline are taken by mouth.

How It Works

Replacing testosterone, if it is low, may increase a man’s sexual desire, or libido.

Bromocriptine and cabergoline help to lower the amount of prolactin in the body. In some men, a noncancerous tumor on the pituitary gland causes the gland to produce too much prolactin.

Why It Is Used

Testosterone may be prescribed for men who have low testosterone levels. It is not recommended for men with testosterone levels in the low part of the normal range.

Bromocriptine and cabergoline may be prescribed for men with high prolactin levels.

Blood tests are needed to determine the levels of these hormones.

How Well It Works

Testosterone may improve libido and, as a result, may improve erection problems (erectile dysfunction) in men who have low testosterone levels.

Bromocriptine and cabergoline may help restore sexual interest and potency when erection problems are caused by high prolactin levels. At least 4 weeks of continuous therapy is needed to lower the prolactin level to the normal range.

Side Effects

Side effects of testosterone may include:

• An elevated number of red blood cells (polycythemia), which can increase the risk of stroke or heart attack.
• Painful enlargement of the breasts.
• Water retention.
• High blood pressure.
• An elevated blood cholesterol level.
• Abnormal liver function tests.
• Increased risk of heart failure.
• Increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.
• Increased growth of preexisting prostate cancer.

Side effects of bromocriptine may include:

• Confusion, hallucinations, and uncontrolled body movements, particularly in older men.
• Worsening of liver disorders.
• Worsening of certain mental disorders.
• High blood pressure.
• Infertility.

Side effects of cabergoline may include:

• Low blood pressure.
• Headache, dizziness, and vertigo.
• Depression, nervousness, and anxiety.
• Abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence.
• Dry mouth.
• Anorexia and weight fluctuation.

Side effects may cause some men to stop taking the medication. Nervous system and mental side effects may linger for 2 to 6 weeks after a man stops taking the medication.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

When considering hormonal therapy for erection problems, it is important to include your partner in your decision.

During the first year of testosterone therapy, you should receive a prostate examination, a PSA blood test, a complete blood count, and a liver function test every 3 to 6 months.

Although replacement of testosterone through injections or patches can improve a man’s libido, it does not always improve a man’s ability to have an erection.

Cabergoline given weekly is as effective as daily doses of bromocriptine and may be associated with fewer side effects. Prolactin levels should be monitored monthly.

More information at Todo en Medicamentos.

Hormonal Birth Control: A Male Option?

Researchers Say Hormonal Contraception Is Reversible in Men

Hormonal contraception contraception for men may finally become a commercial reality within the next few years, experts suggest. Research offers reassuring evidence that it is not only effective, but reversible.

Researchers from UCLA and the University of Sydney analyzed sperm data from male hormonal birth control studies conducted over the last two decades. They found that most men’s sperm counts returned to normal within four or five months of stopping treatment.

“It is one thing to know that male hormonal contraception works, and another thing to know that fertility can be easily restored when a man chooses,” says researcher Peter Y. Liu, PhD. “This is an important step in the evolution of male contraception.”

Decades-Long Search

In the more than four decades since women got the pill, the birth control methods available to men have not changed much.

The search for a safe, effective, and commercially viable hormonal contraceptive for men has been a slow one. But experts tell Todo en Medicamentos that scientific advances within just the last few years may soon give men more birth control options.

The version that appears closest to commercial reality combines an implant of the steroid hormone progestin and shots of another steroid hormone, androgen, says Diana Blithe, PhD. She is the program director for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s male contraceptive development program.

Progestins are often used in women’s contraception. Androgens are the major hormones responsible for the development and maintenance of male characteristics.

The implant would last for a year; men would need to get the shots every three months. This is a big improvement over earlier versions of male hormonal birth control, which required androgen shots as often as every week.

“We are much closer than we were just a few years ago,” Blithe tells Todo en Medicamentos. “Contraceptive formulations have improved and there is a general feeling that men will embrace this.”

More information at Todo en Medicamentos.