Testosterone Supplements: Hype, but No Erection Benefits

Many men believe that supplemental testosterone improves erections, but a robust literature says it does not. The FDA considers testosterone over-prescribed.
Myth: It improves erections. Truth: It boosts desire, but not function.

• Many men believe that supplemental testosterone improves erections.

• This is true only for men with clearly demonstrated clinical deficiency.

• Around 7 percent of men are clinically deficient, but prescriptions of testosterone have quadrupled since 2000.

• The FDA says the hormone is over-prescribed.

You probably know that the male sex hormone, testosterone, plays a pivotal role in men’s sexuality. Consequently, when men develop erectile dysfunction (ED), many assume the cause is testosterone deficiency. They believe supplementation offers a quick fix, and many doctors are willing to prescribe it.
However, a large recent study (Macdowall 2022) shows that testosterone supplementation provides no erection boost. The hormone plays a clear role in sexual desire and frequency of self-sexing, but has no impact on sexual function, particularly on erections.
Testosterone Supplements: Hype, but No Erection Benefits