By Rhys Leeming
With all the potentially helpful things I found to address my ED, I also found a few to avoid. And they can be just as important. Stress, anxiety and focus on the wrong things can be very counterproductive. What I share here is based on my own experience and reading, and is not intended as medical advice.
Recovering from prostate surgery is a long journey. I feel like my attention to health details, how I felt, and what I should be focusing on made my journey that much quicker. Intimacy, love and gratitude were much better ways to guide my attention than obsessing on erections per se. I really hope this helps some others going through what I have.
As a scientist I have researched many of the hormonal mechanisms involved in erectile function. Unfortunately, there are hormones that tend to diminish erections. Below are the anti-erectile hormones to watch out for and some of the reasons they might occur in your body at the most unwanted times. It’s intended as a companion to my previous post about pro-erectile mechanisms.
Adrenaline
Action on erectile function: Vasoconstriction of blood vessels, smooth muscle contraction and overriding of sexual arousal signals – fight or flight response.
Notes: A rush of adrenaline is catastrophic for erections. Disappointment or performance anxiety is a common cause.
Cortisol
Action on erectile function: High levels impair erection by blunting testosterone, increasing stress, and constricting blood vessels.
Notes: Stress and poor sleep elevate cortisol. High levels inhibit parasympathetic tone, which is critical for erections.
Thyroid Hormones
(T3, T4)
Action on erectile function: Both hypo- (too little) and hyperthyroidism (too much) can cause erectile dysfunction by affecting metabolism, libido, and sex hormone levels.
Hypothyroidism (too little): Low libido, fatigue, ED.
Hyperthyroidism (too much): Anxiety, rapid ejaculation, sometimes ED.
Prolactin
Action on erectile function: High levels reduce libido and impair erection by suppressing dopamine and testosterone.
Elevated prolactin often due to pituitary issues or antipsychotic medications. Low levels usually not problematic.
Melatonin
Action: Regulates sleep-wake cycles and indirectly affects sex hormone production and circadian patterns of erectile function (e.g., morning erections).
High nighttime melatonin promotes restful sleep (testosterone restoration), but excessive levels may suppress libido if out of sync with circadian rhythm.
Insulin
Action affecting erectile function: Regulates blood sugar and affects endothelial health and nitric oxide availability.
Insulin resistance and diabetes are major ED risk factors. Cut down sugar intake.
Growth hormone (GH)
Action affecting erectile function: Supports tissue repair, collagen synthesis, and may influence nitric oxide production.
Indirect support of erection via vascular and tissue health. Low GH levels seen in aging may contribute to declining function.
Estrogen (Estradiol)
Action affecting erectile function: In moderate levels, estrogen supports nitric oxide; in high levels, it suppresses testosterone and may impair erection.
Balance with testosterone is key. High estrogen often seen in obesity, alcohol use, or aging men with low T.
Just remember, this is not medical advice. It’s what I learned and helped me. See a doctor to discuss your own health and hormonal situation before you take action.
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