Osteoporosis is a disease that can cause bones to become weak or break, often leading to bone fractures. It is a common occurrence in people over the age of 50.
Experts believe that lower levels of the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone are associated with osteoporosis. This can lead to sexual health problems, including erectile dysfunction and vaginal dryness.
Erectile Dysfunction and Osteoporosis
Men with erectile dysfunction may be at increased risk for osteoporosis, a condition that leads to bone loss. According to Huffington Post, a 2016 study found that men with psychogenic ED were three times more likely to develop osteoporosis than those who didn’t have the condition.
Researchers think that the lower levels of sex hormones as we age cause bone thinning and weakening. This is why sexual problems like erectile dysfunction and vaginal dryness can often coexist with osteoporosis.
Treatment options for ED may include medications Cenforce 100, Cenforce 200, testosterone replacement therapy, counseling, and lifestyle changes. Women who experience sexual dysfunction can also use a patch to increase sex drive or lubricant to ease vaginal dryness. The key is to talk with a healthcare provider about your options.
Testosterone Levels
As men age, their levels of testosterone decline. It may be that this decrease in hormones is responsible for their bone thinning.
Testosterone is essential for maintaining and promoting the formation of new bones. Without adequate amounts of this hormone, the body cannot keep up with the deterioration that occurs naturally in the aging process.
Similarly, men who take medications that suppress testosterone, such as the hormone glucocorticoids used to treat asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, have a higher risk of osteoporosis.
A recent study examined a group of Australian men who were followed for six years. The men were evaluated for weight, BMD, calcium intake, and serum total and free testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels. During the six-year follow-up, 113 men (almost 20% of the study group) sustained symptomatic low-trauma fractures. The fractures occurred in a number of different parts of the spine, pelvis, and hip. The results showed that low total and free testosterone levels were independently associated with a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures in men who sustained these breaks.
Vitamin D Levels
Vitamin D is needed to keep bones healthy, and low levels of this vitamin are associated with bone weakening and increased risk of osteoporosis. Doctors usually recommend that people get enough vitamin D, especially if they have high risk factors for osteoporosis or are at risk of getting a bone fracture.
In addition to preventing bone weakening, vitamin D has also been shown to help treat osteoporosis in some cases. It is believed that the vitamin can slow or stop bone loss in people with osteoporosis and may prevent some of the pain associated with the condition.
There are three cutoff levels for 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations proposed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to determine if a person is deficient, insufficient, or sufficiency: 20 ng/mL for deficiency; 21 to 29 ng/mL for insufficiency; and 30 to 100 ng/mL for sufficiency. However, there are observational studies that support an alternate target range ranging from 20 to 50 ng/mL for vitamin D metabolites and serum concentrations (46).
Exercise
Exercise is an important component of healthy living and a great way to fight age-related health problems. It can help you maintain a healthy weight, improve your cardiovascular system, increase muscle strength and flexibility and help prevent diseases such as diabetes and some cancers.
Physical activity is also important to keep your bones strong and healthy. Doing regular strength training exercises – such as running, jogging, swimming and lifting heavy dumbbells – helps build stronger bones.
As well as building strength, exercising regularly can help to keep your bones flexible. Being flexible can help you to get up and move around easily and can improve your sports performance.
There is evidence that regular exercise improves blood flow and reduces erectile dysfunction in men. These benefits are believed to come from the improved ability of your heart to pump blood and blood vessels to send blood to your penis.
