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What Causes Erectile Dysfunction After Taking Methylprednisolone?
Question: I'm having a problem with ED. It's very difficult to have an erection and this just started after having Methylprednisolone pills then a cortisone injection a month later into my foot for Plantar Fasisitis. I'm 45 years old
Brief Answer:
Steroid injection locally in foot may not be the cause
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns but I need some more information.
1. How long you have been taking steroid pills? specify the dosage and time period.
2. How many days back you had steroid injection?
3. Do you have steroid injection in your veins [blood] apart from foot?
Erectile problems are common after steroid injection but for that the injections should be frequent. Erectile problems with only one shot and that is also in foot, so it may not be the cause. Erectile dysfunction after repeated steroid injections is common in wrestlers.
If you really have erectile problems then you must have loss of early morning erection. Have you noticed that? if not then do the test as under: In this test you have to apply a strip of paper [about 1 cm width] around your penis base while it is in flaccid state. It should be tight enough and use gum to stick both the ends of paper around penis base.
When your penis gets erection during early morning the paper will be ruptured and this will be the positive finding that it gets normal morning erection. If the test is negative that is, if you get normal erection in early morning then erectile problems are not due to steroid pills or injection.
Give the answers for the questions asked.
Waiting for the reply.
Wish you good health.
Steroid injection locally in foot may not be the cause
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns but I need some more information.
1. How long you have been taking steroid pills? specify the dosage and time period.
2. How many days back you had steroid injection?
3. Do you have steroid injection in your veins [blood] apart from foot?
Erectile problems are common after steroid injection but for that the injections should be frequent. Erectile problems with only one shot and that is also in foot, so it may not be the cause. Erectile dysfunction after repeated steroid injections is common in wrestlers.
If you really have erectile problems then you must have loss of early morning erection. Have you noticed that? if not then do the test as under: In this test you have to apply a strip of paper [about 1 cm width] around your penis base while it is in flaccid state. It should be tight enough and use gum to stick both the ends of paper around penis base.
When your penis gets erection during early morning the paper will be ruptured and this will be the positive finding that it gets normal morning erection. If the test is negative that is, if you get normal erection in early morning then erectile problems are not due to steroid pills or injection.
Give the answers for the questions asked.
Waiting for the reply.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Over 30 days ago it was set of 21 pills that was 4mg for 6 days. Then a month later it was an injection in the foot. Prior to this I had not experienced ED. As far as morning erection fortunately I did this morning for the first time in 2 weeks. It's been 10 days since my cortisone injection. When I finally had an ejaculation my penis was not erect and there was so pleasurable sensation when I ejaculated.
Brief Answer:
It is good that it is improving
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
I feel that pill of 4 mg in a day for 6 days and a local injection of steroid could not be the cause though there is a temporal relation between two. If it is due to steroid then It will improve with time, it does not cause permanent loss of erection.
Apart from this, the other causes like stress, anxiety, diabetes and uncontrolled blood pressure should be looked fore. Because all these confounding factors may be colouring the picture in which you have first impression of steroid as a cause but actually it isn't. If you have any recent stress, anxiety or depression then visit a psychiatrist and get treatment.
I would suggest here you to wait because if the steroid is the cause then it will improve without doing anything else. If you have any stress then get solution for it.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
It is good that it is improving
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.
I feel that pill of 4 mg in a day for 6 days and a local injection of steroid could not be the cause though there is a temporal relation between two. If it is due to steroid then It will improve with time, it does not cause permanent loss of erection.
Apart from this, the other causes like stress, anxiety, diabetes and uncontrolled blood pressure should be looked fore. Because all these confounding factors may be colouring the picture in which you have first impression of steroid as a cause but actually it isn't. If you have any recent stress, anxiety or depression then visit a psychiatrist and get treatment.
I would suggest here you to wait because if the steroid is the cause then it will improve without doing anything else. If you have any stress then get solution for it.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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