There is no shortcut to good sex.
despite being stuck for a long time principles among men While having more testosterone equates to a stronger sex drive, the evidence for its effect on sexual performance is unclear, according to new research,
More than 10 million men in the US are living with erectile dysfunction – and many more who report suffering from a disproportionately low libido that is contributing to their sex-less marriages.
When pills, exercise, and therapy don’t work, many desperate singles and spouses turn to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to fix their sluggish sex lives.
TRT was designed as a treatment for men who suffer from testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism. Regular artificial injections of testosterone are said to help patients improve libido, sexual function, fertility, and mood.
On Reddit, nearly 178,000 users have joined the forum /r/Testosterone to read about it. Discuss the benefits And side effects of TRT. Meanwhile, on the subreddit, /r/DeadBedrooms – where 485,000 frustrated and disappointed users go to commiserate with their sexual dysfunction – countless TRT supporters support The life-changing treatment that put their broken hearts back together.
However, an international team of researchers led by the University of California, Santa Barbara has published a new study that uncovers the truth behind testosterone’s role in sexual reproduction.
Unfortunately, they did not find any significant relationship between fluctuations in testosterone levels and male sex drive, especially in long-term relationships.
“This finding argues against the utility of testosterone prescriptions for treating low sexual desire in men in whom testosterone concentrations are within the normal range,” the researchers wrote.
The study involved 41 men aged 18 to 26, single or partnered, whose testosterone levels were in the “normal” range. During a 31-day testing period, participants submitted daily saliva samples and self-reported questionnaires about their sexual desires and dating attempts.
Their data showed that only single men produced higher testosterone on days when they reported interacting with a potential partner, suggesting that the body is preparing itself for a potential partner. Is – and is competing with other men. Previous animal research has shown that both birds and primates produce elevated levels of testosterone in competition with other males.
However, husbands and boyfriends who had regular interactions with their wives and girlfriends during the testing period showed no such change in their testosterone levels, despite experiencing normal male urges.
“Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in single versus partnered men,” the researchers said. Nevertheless, they also observed “a trend toward higher sexual desire among partnered men.”
Their analysis revealed that partnered men have as much, if not more, sexual desire than single men – and only need standard doses of testosterone to satisfy it.
The researchers concluded, “These findings confirm prior research suggesting that men’s sexual desire requires only a threshold amount of baseline testosterone, above which testosterone changes do not affect desire.”
