Erectile Function Hormones refers to the specific endocrine signaling molecules that play a critical, permissive, and regulatory role in the physiological process of achieving and maintaining a penile erection. Key hormones include testosterone, which is essential for libido and nitric oxide synthesis, and prolactin and thyroid hormones, which also exert modulatory effects. A precise balance and sufficient concentration of these hormones are necessary for the neurovascular pathways involved in erectile function to operate optimally. Clinical assessment of erectile dysfunction often begins with a comprehensive hormonal panel.
Origin
The term combines ‘erectile function’ (referring to the physiological state of penile rigidity) with ‘hormones’ (from the Greek hormao, meaning to set in motion or spur on). This clinical grouping recognizes the undeniable link between the endocrine system and male sexual health, a relationship that has been studied in endocrinology and urology for decades.
Mechanism
Testosterone is the primary androgen that influences the central nervous system’s drive for sexual activity and upregulates the production of nitric oxide synthase in the penile tissues. Nitric oxide acts as the crucial signaling molecule that relaxes the smooth muscles of the corpus cavernosum, allowing for increased blood flow and subsequent engorgement. Imbalances in other hormones, such as elevated prolactin or suboptimal thyroid function, can interfere with these neurovascular signals, thus disrupting the cascade necessary for robust erectile response.
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