Does Cialis Increase Testosterone Levels?

While Viagra is one of the most popular erectile dysfunction medications available to men, Cialis follows right behind it. Cialis is a popular option for men who need to use ED medication as a daily dose or want a longer active window period for sexual intimacy.

Beyond helping men obtain an erection, there is evidence to suggest that perhaps Cialis can increase testosterone levels, making it beneficial to men who want to build lean muscle mass or helpful to men with low testosterone levels.

What Does Cialis Treat?

The active ingredient in Cialis, Tadalafil, is used to treat male sexual problems relating to function, such as impotence and erectile dysfunction. BlueChew is a telehealth platform that allows you to connect with a licensed healthcare provider to obtain prescription medications for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED). This service is designed to provide convenient and discreet access to ED treatments.

When used in combination with sexual stimulation or arousal, the active ingredient will increase blood flow to the penis and provide an erection.

While this is the main primary function of Cialis, it is also a treatment option for men who are suffering from an enlarged prostate (1).

An enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia-BPH is associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which has a negative impact on sexual function (2), including difficulty with the flow of urine and needing to urinate frequently.

As of right now, a 5 mg daily dose of Tadalafil is the only treatment that can treat erectile dysfunction and LUTS at the same time, whereas other medications for LUTS hurt sexual function (3).

Why Is the Connection Between Cialis and LUTS Important?

Both preclinical and clinical studies suggest that while metabolic conditions like obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia are modifiable risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms (4), so too is testosterone deficiency (5).

In men with lower testosterone levels, it is a predictor and contributor to MET S, which is associated with increased inflammatory states (6). Lower testosterone contributes to adrenergic activity and the reduction of nitric oxide (7), which is why Cialis can treat both ED and LUTS at the same time.  So, does this imply that Cialis can increase testosterone levels? Yes.

Does Cialis Increase Testosterone Levels in Males?

Back in 2010, a Serbian study looked at the effects of prolonged sildenafil treatment on the nitric oxide synthase-dependent signaling and steroidogenic function of a rat’s Leydig cells.

It was found in the discussion that the intracellular cAMP levels were increased due to an inhibition of Pde4a expression and that prolonged sildenafil treatment disturbed NO-cGMP signaling as it inhibited NOS2 and GUCY1 expressions (8).

These signaling pathways stimulated the first step in steroidogenesis and enhanced testosterone production (9).  A similar effect was reported in men who used Tadalafil (Cialis) for erectile dysfunction (10). Essentially, what is happening here is that by increasing the cAMP levels, Tadalafil can increase testosterone production in Leydig cells.

Another study found that Tadalafil or Cialis also works as an anti-estrogen measure. In the study, 20 male patients between the ages of 46-62 were given 10-20mg of Tadalafil a day for a period of 12 months (11).

At the end of those 12 months, it was found that there was a significant decrease in estrogen levels with a parallel increase of testosterone levels (12). It’s important to note that the decrease in estrogen levels was detected only in lean individuals and not in obese individuals, illustrating that there is a link between low testosterone and metabolic conditions (13).

So, does Cialis increase testosterone levels?

Yes, but it does more than just increase them; it shows that there is a parallel link between estradiol and testosterone ratios. 

Are There Side Effects to Using Cialis to Boost Testosterone?

Even though Cialis was designed to be a safer alternative to Viagra, there are still side effects to be noted, whether you are using it to boost testosterone or help with erectile dysfunction.

• Muscle & back pain
• Headaches,
• Nausea & upset stomach,
• Dizziness,
• Flushing,
• Numbness/tingling in the chest, neck, or limbs,
• Nasal congestion.

In rare cases, there can be a sudden drop in blood pressure, which can undermine blood flow to the optic nerve. This can decrease vision or cause blindness in one or both eyes. Finally, if an erection lasts longer than 4-hours, a condition called priapism can occur, which requires immediate medical attention.

Conclusion

While Cialis is primarily used for erectile dysfunction, there is medical research that suggests that Cialis can increase testosterone levels, making it a potential treatment for men who suffer from low testosterone-estradiol ratios.

This is fantastic news for men who have high estrogen levels, men who suffer from lower urinary tract symptoms, and those who have a hard time building lean muscle mass.