Hypothyroidism and erectile dysfunction

[cfgalak]

Hello to all. I have been hypo for some time (hashimoto). Ever since I was diagnosed, I have had all the symptoms, such as hair loss, cold and especially erectile dysfunction.

I was on levothyroxine therapy for years, increasing dosages, to no avail. I switched to T3 + T4 combination therapy with no results. NTD is not found in my country, so my doctor suggested that I start therapy with T3 only.

My biggest problem is that of erectile dysfunction, in addition to T3 therapy can I do anything else to solve it? I also take vitamin D supplements. My testosterone level is in the range. Estrogen as well, only prolactin to the limit. Can it be advisable to take DHEA for men or risk of increasing estrogen? I also have low ferritin, can it do anything to supplement it for my erectile dysfunction? Thanks for your suggestions!

[greygoose]

Can't tell you anything without a few blood test results, and ranges. You need:

TSH

FT4

FT3

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin.

If your ferritin is low, it can cause all sorts of problems. But, how low is low? Just telling us it is low tells us nothing.

Not advisable to take DHEA without first testing it. But, in my experience, there's no knowing what it will increase. In my case, it all converted to testosterone, which was not at all what I needed! It behaves differently with different people.

[cfgalak in reply to greygoose]

TSH 5.4

FT4 0.86

FT3 2.36

VIT D.

it was at 7 after supplements came to 90

Ferritin 50

I have not tested folate and vit B12.

other hormonal tests done:

ALBUMINA 4.6 (3.5-5.2)

FSH 5.40 (1.4-18.1)

LH 5.71 (1.5-9.3)

PROLATTINA 17.7 (2.1-17.7)

ESTRADIOLO 27.06 (<39.8)

TESTOSTERONE 6.10 (1.65-7.53)

TESTOSTERONE FREE 24.90 (27.30-69.30)

SHBG 39.50 (13-71)

Thank you

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to cfgalak]

Sorry we need ranges on Ft3 and Ft4

But anyone on adequate thyroid hormone replacement will have very low TSH. On levothyroxine at least under 2, often well under one. On NDT or T3 TSH is frequently extremely low or actually zero

So your TSH at 5.4 strongly suggests very under treated

Essential to test B12 and folate

As you have Hashimoto’s are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Or tried it?

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to cfgalak]

Don’t know much about testosterone...

Your Free Testosterone is below range

everlywell.com/blog/testost...

This is good article

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[LivingWithHT in reply to cfgalak]

Your prolactin is high, your free testosterone is low and your SHBG (sex drive hormone) is on the lower end. So...that all makes a lot of sense as to why you are suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Are you on any form of anti-depressants or mood stabilizers? They tend to do all that...

Side note: sorry if that question was too intrusive. I am only asking because I was once on an anti-depressant and it also reduced my SHBG to the lower end and increased my prolactin drastically...which is why I eventually stopped taking them. I am not male so I can’t speak for my testosterone levels but anti-depressants, mood stabilizers and related medicines almost always end up negatively impacting sex drive...and can sometimes make it hard for couples to conceive if they are wanting to have children (because of high prolactin.)

[BadHare]

Prolactin could be the issue. Do you know your levels & why it’s high?

[hdbernalp1979]

You have levothyroxine conversion problems as i did, i was long time(8 years) with tsh over 4 oscillating to 7, same problems that you, i loss nearly all my eyebrows, too ED. Only until this year finally i found a solution, as other people said try iron , on thing that i saw on my tests that make a big difference is cod oil when i began to use it at two months my TSH went from nearly 7 to 2.7!!!! I think is the content of vitamins A y D, also i´m on vit b12 shoots every two weeks. I hope ED improve on a while, has been many years with this issues.

Good luck!!