To Your Good Health

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a bad case of erectile dysfunction. I am 80 years old and otherwise in good health. I have received an ad in the mail that says it is not a lack of testosterone, but rather too much estrogen in the body. They make a lot of promises, but it scares me to reduce estrogen without further knowledge. What do you know? How can I overcome this problem and enjoy sex again? — Anon. ANSWER: The effect of estrogen on male sexual function is controversial. While it is true that men with erectile dysfunction are more likely to have high estrogen levels, reducing estrogen with medications (antiestrogens) in men with erectile dysfunction is seldom used as a treatment. The most common drugs, such as sildenafil (Viagra), work mostly on blood vessels but also have effects on raising both testosterone levels and estrogen levels in men. The vast majority of men with erectile dysfunction, even in their 80s, enjoy success with Viagra and similar drugs.