an illustration showing the steps of how cholesterol clogs up arteries

Erectile Dysfunction
& High Cholesterol

High cholesterol and Erectile Dysfunction (ED) are health conditions that commonly coexist and can interfere with sexual performance and a decrease in libido.

In the past, the GP would prescribe taking a ‘blue pill' as a solution, but for many men these do not provide a long-term or satisfactory solution to their problems. At MansMatters we have a raft of ground-breaking technology that have enabled our patients to reverse sexual decline and enable numerous them to restore their sex lives.

Find out more how MansMatters can help you.

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a render of cholesterol flowing in the blood stream in an artery alongside red blood cells

What is Cholesterol & How Is It Connected to ED?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance carried in the bloodstream. It is essential for a number of bodily functions, including the production of bile needed to help breakdown fats in the digestive tract and sex hormones like testosterone.

Maintaining a good blood flow through your body is essential and especially important in getting and maintaining an erection - A GP will tell you that ED is often the earliest recorded symptom of high cholesterol in men.

While cholesterol is essential, too much of it can cause a number of health issues.

There are two main types of cholesterol: High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) – good cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) bad cholesterol. It's this bad cholesterol that causes problems, it can stick to the inside of arteries, leading to a build-up of atheroma, a fatty substance that causes stenosis (narrowing) of the arteries and thus making it difficult for blood to flow freely and allowing the enjoyment of natural erections.
High cholesterol also impinges on the body's ability to properly release nitric oxide into the bloodstream. Nitric oxide is required to enable the proper relaxation of the penile tissue that leads to the blood flow that helps create an erection.
Testosterone is required to control sex drive and desire, and is needed for the initiation and maintenance of an erection; high cholesterol limits blood flow to the testicles and may damage the ability to produce testosterone, which can lead to ED.
Unfortunately, some medications prescribed for reducing cholesterol can also lead to symptoms of ED.

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a render of cholesterol flowing in the blood stream in an artery alongside red blood cells

a plate of different foods to help maintain good cholesterol levels

How to Maintain a Healthy Cholesterol Level

To maintain a healthy cholesterol level, you should reduce the intake of foods that contain saturated fat, such as fatty meat, butter, creams, hard cheese, cakes etc.
On the contrary, you should eat more oily fish, brown rice, wholegrain bread, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables, etc.
Physical exercise is also extremely important to maintain a healthy cholesterol level.

Bad habits such as smoking and binge drinking need to be avoided to maintain a healthy cholesterol level. Smoking has been identified as a risk factor for high cholesterol, because it can reduce good cholesterol (HDL). Smoking is also a major risk factor for causing ED, as smoking can damage the blood arteries and due to that, blood flow inside the penile tissues can decrease. Stopping smoking is a must if you want to have a better erectile function and a healthy cholesterol level.
60% of people with High Blood Pressure also suffer from high cholesterol. We have another page about Erectile Dysfunction & High Blood Pressure (Hyperlink: https://www.mansmatters.co.uk/erectile-dysfunction-high-blood-pressure/ ) which you can read by following the link.
High cholesterol is linked with other diseases as well, such as diabetes and heart issues like coronary heart disease and stroke. Diabetes is also known as a major risk factor for ED. Men with diabetes are comparatively more vulnerable to suffering from ED than men who don't have diabetes. On the other hand, men with heart issues face an increased risk of suffering from ED than others.
If you are suffering from ED, you may find that the pills you are taking for high cholesterol are a contributory factor. Rather than stop taking the pills, you should consider consulting us here at MansMatters about treatment we can provide that will allow you to continue taking them while enabling you to enjoy satisfactory, natural erections once again.

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an illustration of a person undergoing shockwave therapy to aid with erectile dysfunction

How We Treat ED

For men who suffer Erectile Dysfunction & High Cholesterol, we provide revolutionary non-invasive treatments to treat ED in patients. Our treatment protocols consist of a range of technologies including Focused Shockwave Therapy (FST), Extracorporeal MagnetoTransduction Therapy (EMTT) Nano Vi, Functional Magnetic stimulation, and the Tesla Chair.

A combination of these treatments has proven to be extremely successful in improving erectile function in our ED patients.

FST uses special acoustic soundwaves to generate new blood vessels and to break down the plaques inside millions of penile blood vessels allowing increased blood flow in the penile tissues.
EMTT further increases blood flow in the penis and improves the quality of blood vessels. It also increases communication between cells and promotes more efficient function, through the utilisation of a strong magnetic field.

an illustration of a person undergoing shockwave therapy to aid with erectile dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction & High Cholesterol FAQs

Is There a Link Between ED and Cholesterol?

A number of research studies have found the association between ED and high cholesterol. Men who have high cholesterol are comparatively more vulnerable to suffering from ED than men with a normal cholesterol level.

How Does High Cholesterol Cause ED?

When the cholesterol level gets too high, LDL or bad cholesterol can stick to the inside of arteries and cause a narrowing of blood arteries. Because of this, blood circulation is reduced and various organs of the body, including penile tissues. don’t get sufficient blood supply. Due to this reduced blood supply, obtaining a strong erection becomes difficult for men and thus they suffer from ED. A decreased level of testosterone hormone caused by high cholesterol can also contribute to the development of ED.

Is ED Common in Men Who Have High Cholesterol?

ED is pretty common in men who have high cholesterol, that’s why it is considered a major risk factor for ED. Moreover, some doctors and researchers suggest that ED can signal high cholesterol and act as a warning sign that you have a cholesterol problem.

Is Cholesterol a Necessary Component for the Human Body to Function Properly?

Cholesterol is a massively vital component of the human body. An optimum level of cholesterol is necessary for the production of testosterone and bile which breaks down the fats in the digestive tract.

Can Both Types of Cholesterol be Responsible for the Development of ED?

Both types of cholesterols, such as HDL and LDL can be responsible for the development of ED. While LDL can cause ED by narrowing the blood arteries, HDL can cause ED by impairing the body’s ability to properly release nitric oxide. Without enough nitric oxide, penile tissues fail to relax properly, which leads to a reduced blood flow inside the tissues.

Does High Cholesterol Affect the Testosterone Hormone Level of Men?

High cholesterol can decrease the production of testosterone hormone, as high cholesterol impairs the blood flow to the testicles. Due to this, testosterone hormone levels may decrease.

How Can I Maintain a Healthy Cholesterol Level?

In order to maintain a healthy cholesterol level, you should eat fewer fatty foods. You can try to increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, oily fish, nuts, and seeds, etc. Taking physical exercise is extremely important in maintaining a healthy cholesterol level, while bad habits such as smoking and drinking to excess should be avoided.

Do Cholesterol Medications Affect the Erectile Function of Men?

There is a debate whether cholesterol medications cause ED or not. Certain cholesterol medications can lead to symptoms of ED by decreasing the testosterone hormone level. However, it may not be the case for everyone. That’s why it’s better for you to talk to a medical professional before taking any cholesterol medications and establish whether those medications are suitable for you or not.

Is ED Caused by High Cholesterol Treatable?

ED caused by high cholesterol is definitely treatable. Some men may experience better erectile function after treating high cholesterol, whilst some men may need to undergo effective ED treatments to improve their erectile function. We have successfully treated hundreds of men suffering from ED due to high cholesterol, using our unique combination of non-invasive treatments.