A man always wants his sex life to be on the up and up, but when erectile dysfunction hits, it’s more like on the down and down. If his basic penis health is good - meaning, there’s no clear and overt penis-related issue, like trauma - it may be time to look for other causes. And one of the primary reasons why a man may experience erectile dysfunction is that his cortisol levels are too high.

And cortisol is….?

Cortisol is a hormone that the adrenal glands produce. (A synthetic version of it is available as a medication called cortisone, which has numerous uses, including fighting inflammation, lupus, breathing disorders, and skin conditions.) In the body in its natural state, cortisol is released by the adrenal glands in order to take fats and proteins in the body and break them down so that they can be more effectively used in the body, specifically to provide energy to the body. So if a person is feeling somewhat lethargic or lacking in energy, it is possible that one reason may be that his body isn’t making enough cortisol. (There can be other reasons, as well.)

The levels of cortisol in the body typically vary throughout the day. For example, when a person sleeps, their body has low levels of cortisol. When he wakes up, there’s a rush of increased cortisol, which helps the body to rouse itself out of its slumber. Similarly, when a person goes to the gym and works out, the body releases more cortisol because that higher level of activity demands it. These are examples of elevated cortisol levels that serve a beneficial purpose.

Sometimes, however, high cortisol is associated with negative effects. For example, a person who experiences stress has high cortisol levels - and if a person lives at a level that is often stressful, his cortisol levels will remain high for longer periods than they should. (The relationship between cortisol levels and things like stress and exercise is actually a little more complicated than that, but this simplified version is all one needs to know for a basic understanding.)

And the erectile dysfunction?

In general, high levels of cortisol are associated with a diminished sex drive and with varying degrees of erectile dysfunction. Why should that be?

Basically because when cortisol levels are high, testosterone levels are depressed. So a man who spends a lot of time in high-stress situations is going to produce much less testosterone than he would otherwise. And with lowered testosterone comes a lessened desire for sexual activity, weaker or in some cases absent erections, and sometimes delayed ejaculations.

Lowering cortisol

So what are some ways of lowering cortisol and thereby allowing the body to produce adequate amounts of testosterone? The best approach is to consult a doctor so that a proper diagnosis can be made and an appropriate treatment plan put in place. This might include:

- Finding ways to lower stress, such as engaging in meditation, yoga, tai chi, et cetera

- Altering the diet so that one consumes fewer carbohydrates and more lean proteins and fiber

- Adding supplements like vitamin C, glutamine, phosphatidylserine, et cetera

Maintaining general penis health can help decrease the likelihood of erectile dysfunction, especially if one also works on lowering cortisol. Daily use of a first-class penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is urged. Seek out an oil that contains a wide range of vitamins, such as A, B5, C, D, and E. In addition, be sure that the oil being considered also include L-carnitine, an amino acid that helps maintain adequate penis sensitivity.