Can taking too much testosterone cause erectile dysfunction

"When it comes to inappropriate higher levels of testosterone, there are underlying conditions that need to be ruled out," says Dr. Lucille. "The first that come to mind are hyperthyroidism, adrenal or testicular tumor, or precocious puberty."

The medical conditions that cause excess testosterone are rare, argues Drincic. "Many people mistake the symptoms of anabolic steroid abuse with symptoms of high testosterone,” he says. Anabolic steroids, which are sometimes abused by athletes and body builders, are synthetic versions of the male hormone testosterone. They can cause behavior and mood changes that include rage, paranoia, irritability, and poor judgment.

“The long-term effect of anabolic steroids is to," Drincic explains. "These drugs shut down the production of natural testosterone. You can tell these men by their big muscles and tiny testicles.”

High-Testosterone Symptoms

“By far the most common cause of excess testosterone is testosterone replacement therapy," Drincic says. "With all the attention on low testosterone, some men are being over-treated today."

Side effects seen with testosterone replacement include:

• Acne or oily skin
• Prostate swelling
• Breast enlargement
• Worsening of sleep apnea (trouble breathing while sleeping)
• Fluid retention
• Decreased testicle size
• Decrease in sperm count
• Increase in red blood cells

"The reason you see symptoms like shrunken testicles and breast enlargement is because a lot of excess testosterone is converted to the female hormone estrogen,” Drincic says. “The only behavior symptoms I have seen from treating with too much testosterone are mood swings, which is only with testosterone injections."

One way to avoid excess testosterone is to avoid testosterone replacement therapy unless you really need it. “I am seeing a lot of 30-year-old men who have been placed on testosterone for no good reason,” Drincic says.

If low T is your initial concern, lifestyle changes may help. “Dietary and exercise changes, particularly limiting sugars, especially fructose, eating healthy saturated fats, and engaging in high-intensity exercises may relieve symptoms of low testosterone," Lucille says. "Strength training, reducing stress, and optimizing vitamin D levels can also be very effective at boosting testosterone levels naturally."