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We often hear about athletes using PEDs to boost performance and muscle growth, all at the expense of some serious adverse effects. One of the biggest being erectile dysfunction or ED.
ED affects quite a lot of men, and while you may not realize it, is incredibly common in athletes who misuse or stop using certain PEDs. Usually, these PEDs mess with your endocrine system, however, there are rumors of MK-677 or Ibutamoren also causing ED.
Can growth hormone boosters really cause ED, and is there a link between GH secretion and erections? What about natural growth hormones? Insulin-like growth factor?
Before we get too carried away, let’s look at the science and what others have experienced.
Key Takeaways
Does MK-677 cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Let’s jump right into the thick of it. Is there a biological chance that MK-677 can somehow mess with your ability to get a hard-on?
Yes, MK-677 can (by a chain of events) cause erectile dysfunction.
First off, it has nothing to do with the fact that an oral Growth Hormone secretagogue will increase Growth Hormone. MK-677 does not mess with your Testosterone levels, however, MK-677 does have the ability to mess with Prolactin (1).
Figure 1: Because Prolactin and Growth hormone are produced by the same part of the body, the Pituitary Gland, stimulating the gland to produce more GH will also lead to more Prolactin
Prolactin is described as “Prolactin is a hormone that’s responsible for lactation, certain breast tissue development, and milk production. Higher-than-normal levels of prolactin in your blood can cause certain symptoms, such as irregular periods, infertility, and erectile dysfunction.”
Prolactin is produced by the same gland as Growth Hormone – the pituitary gland. While it is technically possible that MK-677 can cause ED, it doesn’t happen too often.
Avoiding erectile dysfunction while on MK-677 is very easy, just use some Vitamin B6 at 100 – 300mg per day and you should be good! Vitamin B6 is known to keep Prolactin and Progesterone in check (2).
But before you do, I’ve gathered some stories about MK-677 and changes in Libido.
Stories about MK-677 and Erectile Dysfunction
Reddit user review
“I’m 19yo started taking 15mg of Mk677 on February 18, met up with a girl a few days later, and had sex and it was all good. Next weekend I see that girl again and my dick just doesn’t work, I can’t maintain an erection. I started taking 100mg of P5P and 2 weeks later I met up with the same girl and I still went soft mid-way through sex.
PLEASE HELP Idk what to do, I’m still very horny sometimes (usually in the morning. I also think it’d be partly that I’m not as attracted to this girl. I just don’t feel the connection. I take it every day before bed.”
Citation[/quote]
Reddit user review
“All right, so two months ago I stopped taking mk677 since I ran out of bottles. Then I thought might be a good thing to cycle it a little bit and wait 2-3 weeks before taking it again…… But then I kinda noticed that I’m having trouble keeping an erection or having a low libido toward my girlfriend which is pretty hot in my opinion…… I’ve seen that mk677 could cause gyno and Ed….. let’s say I’ve got ED, which isn’t 100% sure, is it possible for me to have only Ed and not gyno? Also, I’ve seen that b6 vitamins also known as p5p could help me with that, will I have to take these pills for the rest of my life to keep my prolactin level lower or just a couple times will make it? Thank you all.”
Citation[/quote]
Does Human Growth Hormone cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Just for reference sake, what if you were to use the real deal, would Human Growth Hormone cause ED? Since HGH would not stimulate the pituitary gland, you’d expect it not to do anything, surely?
Using certain types of HGH replacement can cause ED, but they are not pure HGH and are all basically Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides, Hormones, or Secretagogues.
Since all of these will stimulate the pituitary gland to produce more HGH, it will also increase the production of Prolactin.
So no, pure HGH injections do not seem to cause ED.
What is MK-677?
When treating someone who is suffering from Growth Hormone deficiency, you have a few different routes to take. The easiest (and most expensive) is going to be simply using exogenous Growth Hormone.
Scientists realized this might not be accessible to everyone, and wanted something that’ll increase Growth Hormones in the body without costing several hundred dollars per month.
Figure 2: MK-677 is a Growth Hormone boosting SARM that can be used to lose fat or increase lean muscle mass
What they came up with were GHRPs, GHRHs, and something called MK-677. MK is known as a SARM but isn’t a SARM. It will interact with the Ghrelin receptors and cause an increase in Growth Hormone release from the pituitary gland (3).
Growth hormone deficiencies can be treated with this effectively, however, it can also be used for various other applications. The sports world soon realized this and using MK-677 for the benefit of increased HGH levels soon became quite popular.
Benefits of MK-677
All the benefits of MK-677 can be attributed to increased Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1.
Side Effects of MK-677
For all its benefits, there will, unfortunately, always be a drawback. Primarily, this will be due to an increase in HGH:
Where to buy MK-677?
Finding a retailer that is open about its products is key. Without transparency about testing, etc, you really are just shooting in the dark.
Your best bet for MK-677 is going to be Sports Technology Labs, as they not only sell MK-677 but also Peptides that can increase GH levels as well – such as Ipamorelin.
Figure 3: Sports Technology Labs is the current best retailer of SARMs and Peptides in the States
They also stock SARMs and other Peptides that can aid in protein synthesis and fat loss, both helping with body composition.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is a scenario where the male or person with a penis fails to either achieve or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse. They will have the libido to want sex, however, the poor sexual function keeps them from actual penetration.
Erectile dysfunction usually only affects older men, however, with Testosterone levels falling in the general public, it is more common than ever before. Healthy young adults will suffer from ED and there might not even be an obvious reason for it, however, there are some factors such as environmental impacts people fail to consider.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
ED isn’t always diseases related, there are various reasons why someone could be suffering from ED:
Cures for Erectile Dysfunction
Conclusion: MK 677 Erectile Dysfunction, is there a connection?
There does seem to be a connection after all. We know that Growth Hormones can have tremendous health benefits, however, it does seem to have side effects. Sure, bone health improves massively, but insulin resistance is a bitch.
MK-677 can help you with Growth Hormone GH release, and this can lead to improve sleep quality, improve cognitive function, etc. However, it can cause an increase in prolactin levels in the body.
Increased prolactin or progesterone levels can lead to some issues with libido, even in healthy young adults! Thus, it is important that you keep track of your blood work to ensure you don’t get caught off guard. Vital hormones should be kept in range, and this includes progesterone.
Tip: Vitamin B6 manages Progesterone cheaply.
What happens if you take too much MK-677?
The side effects of MK-677 are pretty minimal, and you shouldn’t be in too much trouble. If you continue to take too much over a long period of time, you can start running into issues of insulin resistance and weight gain – and not the good kind.
This is easily managed by taking less MK, exercising more, and perhaps using something like Metformin.
Does Ibutamoren mess with Testosterone?
No, it does not. MK-677 will only interact with receptors that lead to changes in GH secretion, not Testosterone. Keep in mind that MK-677 can lead to an increase in Prolactin, which can have side effects if not managed properly.
Does MK-677 suppress Testosterone?
No, it does increase Prolactin though.
MK-677 and Cancer
There is a chance that MK-677 could worsen or increase the risk of cancer. See, MK-677 will increase Growth Hormone levels in the body, which will directly lead to an increase in IGF-1 levels. IGF-1 is one of the growth factors of the human body, including cancer cells.
Click here to view the article.
ED affects quite a lot of men, and while you may not realize it, is incredibly common in athletes who misuse or stop using certain PEDs. Usually, these PEDs mess with your endocrine system, however, there are rumors of MK-677 or Ibutamoren also causing ED.
Can growth hormone boosters really cause ED, and is there a link between GH secretion and erections? What about natural growth hormones? Insulin-like growth factor?
Before we get too carried away, let’s look at the science and what others have experienced.
Key Takeaways
- MK-677 can cause ED due to increased Prolactin
- Vitamin B6 is the easiest and cheapest way to manage high Prolactin
- HGH itself does not increase Prolactin
- KM-677 can still be used to improve body composition
Does MK-677 cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Let’s jump right into the thick of it. Is there a biological chance that MK-677 can somehow mess with your ability to get a hard-on?
Yes, MK-677 can (by a chain of events) cause erectile dysfunction.
First off, it has nothing to do with the fact that an oral Growth Hormone secretagogue will increase Growth Hormone. MK-677 does not mess with your Testosterone levels, however, MK-677 does have the ability to mess with Prolactin (1).
Prolactin is described as “Prolactin is a hormone that’s responsible for lactation, certain breast tissue development, and milk production. Higher-than-normal levels of prolactin in your blood can cause certain symptoms, such as irregular periods, infertility, and erectile dysfunction.”
Prolactin is produced by the same gland as Growth Hormone – the pituitary gland. While it is technically possible that MK-677 can cause ED, it doesn’t happen too often.
Avoiding erectile dysfunction while on MK-677 is very easy, just use some Vitamin B6 at 100 – 300mg per day and you should be good! Vitamin B6 is known to keep Prolactin and Progesterone in check (2).
But before you do, I’ve gathered some stories about MK-677 and changes in Libido.
Stories about MK-677 and Erectile Dysfunction
Reddit user review
“I’m 19yo started taking 15mg of Mk677 on February 18, met up with a girl a few days later, and had sex and it was all good. Next weekend I see that girl again and my dick just doesn’t work, I can’t maintain an erection. I started taking 100mg of P5P and 2 weeks later I met up with the same girl and I still went soft mid-way through sex.
PLEASE HELP Idk what to do, I’m still very horny sometimes (usually in the morning. I also think it’d be partly that I’m not as attracted to this girl. I just don’t feel the connection. I take it every day before bed.”
Citation[/quote]
Reddit user review
“All right, so two months ago I stopped taking mk677 since I ran out of bottles. Then I thought might be a good thing to cycle it a little bit and wait 2-3 weeks before taking it again…… But then I kinda noticed that I’m having trouble keeping an erection or having a low libido toward my girlfriend which is pretty hot in my opinion…… I’ve seen that mk677 could cause gyno and Ed….. let’s say I’ve got ED, which isn’t 100% sure, is it possible for me to have only Ed and not gyno? Also, I’ve seen that b6 vitamins also known as p5p could help me with that, will I have to take these pills for the rest of my life to keep my prolactin level lower or just a couple times will make it? Thank you all.”
Citation[/quote]
Does Human Growth Hormone cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Just for reference sake, what if you were to use the real deal, would Human Growth Hormone cause ED? Since HGH would not stimulate the pituitary gland, you’d expect it not to do anything, surely?
Using certain types of HGH replacement can cause ED, but they are not pure HGH and are all basically Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides, Hormones, or Secretagogues.
Since all of these will stimulate the pituitary gland to produce more HGH, it will also increase the production of Prolactin.
So no, pure HGH injections do not seem to cause ED.
What is MK-677?
When treating someone who is suffering from Growth Hormone deficiency, you have a few different routes to take. The easiest (and most expensive) is going to be simply using exogenous Growth Hormone.
Scientists realized this might not be accessible to everyone, and wanted something that’ll increase Growth Hormones in the body without costing several hundred dollars per month.
What they came up with were GHRPs, GHRHs, and something called MK-677. MK is known as a SARM but isn’t a SARM. It will interact with the Ghrelin receptors and cause an increase in Growth Hormone release from the pituitary gland (3).
Growth hormone deficiencies can be treated with this effectively, however, it can also be used for various other applications. The sports world soon realized this and using MK-677 for the benefit of increased HGH levels soon became quite popular.
Benefits of MK-677
All the benefits of MK-677 can be attributed to increased Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1.
- Increase lean body mass
- Decrease fat mass
- Increase bone density
- Improve sleep quality
- Increased sexual function
- It can cause cortisol suppresses factors to increase
- Improved cognitive function
Side Effects of MK-677
For all its benefits, there will, unfortunately, always be a drawback. Primarily, this will be due to an increase in HGH:
- An increase in GH levels can cause insulin sensitivity issues
- Water retention
- Edema
- A potential increase in Prolactin
- Prolonged oral treatment of MK-677 can lead to a Magnesium shortage in the body
Where to buy MK-677?
Finding a retailer that is open about its products is key. Without transparency about testing, etc, you really are just shooting in the dark.
Your best bet for MK-677 is going to be Sports Technology Labs, as they not only sell MK-677 but also Peptides that can increase GH levels as well – such as Ipamorelin.
They also stock SARMs and other Peptides that can aid in protein synthesis and fat loss, both helping with body composition.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is a scenario where the male or person with a penis fails to either achieve or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse. They will have the libido to want sex, however, the poor sexual function keeps them from actual penetration.
Erectile dysfunction usually only affects older men, however, with Testosterone levels falling in the general public, it is more common than ever before. Healthy young adults will suffer from ED and there might not even be an obvious reason for it, however, there are some factors such as environmental impacts people fail to consider.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
ED isn’t always diseases related, there are various reasons why someone could be suffering from ED:
- Hormonal imbalances
- Emotional reasons
- High blood pressure
- Obese patients often suffer from ED
- Porn and drug abuse
- High estrogen and prolactin
Cures for Erectile Dysfunction
- If the cause is porn or mental issues, you would need psychological help
- PT-141 has been shown to improve sexual function
- Melanotan-II can help with erections as well as having significant benefits for fat loss and skin tone
- Viagra and Cialis both work
- Living a healthier lifestyle could also help (losing body fat, increasing fat-free mass, etc)
Conclusion: MK 677 Erectile Dysfunction, is there a connection?
There does seem to be a connection after all. We know that Growth Hormones can have tremendous health benefits, however, it does seem to have side effects. Sure, bone health improves massively, but insulin resistance is a bitch.
MK-677 can help you with Growth Hormone GH release, and this can lead to improve sleep quality, improve cognitive function, etc. However, it can cause an increase in prolactin levels in the body.
Increased prolactin or progesterone levels can lead to some issues with libido, even in healthy young adults! Thus, it is important that you keep track of your blood work to ensure you don’t get caught off guard. Vital hormones should be kept in range, and this includes progesterone.
Tip: Vitamin B6 manages Progesterone cheaply.
What happens if you take too much MK-677?
The side effects of MK-677 are pretty minimal, and you shouldn’t be in too much trouble. If you continue to take too much over a long period of time, you can start running into issues of insulin resistance and weight gain – and not the good kind.
This is easily managed by taking less MK, exercising more, and perhaps using something like Metformin.
Does Ibutamoren mess with Testosterone?
No, it does not. MK-677 will only interact with receptors that lead to changes in GH secretion, not Testosterone. Keep in mind that MK-677 can lead to an increase in Prolactin, which can have side effects if not managed properly.
Does MK-677 suppress Testosterone?
No, it does increase Prolactin though.
MK-677 and Cancer
There is a chance that MK-677 could worsen or increase the risk of cancer. See, MK-677 will increase Growth Hormone levels in the body, which will directly lead to an increase in IGF-1 levels. IGF-1 is one of the growth factors of the human body, including cancer cells.
Click here to view the article.
