Background & Training
Dr. Michael Sterling didn't plan to specialize in men's health. He trained in internal medicine at UCLA Medical Center, then completed a fellowship in endocrinology at Stanford University School of Medicine, where his early research focused on androgen receptor signaling and testicular function in aging men. What drew him toward clinical ED practice wasn't a dramatic moment — it was something quieter. He kept seeing patients in his endocrinology clinic whose testosterone was fine but whose erections weren't, and whose primary care physicians had no good answer for why.
That gap became his clinical focus. Over 14 years of practice, Dr. Sterling has consulted on more than 3,000 men presenting with erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, or both. He sees patients across a spectrum — men in their 30s with psychogenic ED, men in their 60s whose vascular disease has taken a toll, and men of every age whose relationship with their own sexual health has been shaped by silence and embarrassment rather than good information.
Education & Credentials
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) — Graduated with Distinction
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Stanford University School of Medicine — Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
Residency — Internal Medicine
UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Fellowship — Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA
Board Certification — Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) — Active Certification
Clinical Areas of Expertise
Dr. Sterling's practice sits at the intersection of endocrinology and men's sexual medicine — a space that doesn't map neatly onto any single specialty. Testosterone and erectile function are intertwined, but they're not the same problem. A man with a testosterone level of 180 ng/dL and a man with a level of 550 ng/dL can present identically in an ED clinic. The endocrine system sets the backdrop; the vascular and neurogenic systems often write the story.
His clinical and research interests span:
- Pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction — PDE5 inhibitors, intracavernosal injections, vacuum erection devices
- Male hypogonadism and testosterone replacement therapy — indications, monitoring, and fertility implications
- Metabolic syndrome as a driver of ED — the insulin resistance-endothelial dysfunction axis
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia and the role of daily tadalafil in dual symptom management
- Cardiovascular risk assessment in men presenting with new-onset ED (ED as a sentinel cardiovascular event)
Why Erectile Dysfunction Is a Systemic Signal, Not Just a Local Problem
Dr. Sterling often tells patients something they don't expect to hear at their first appointment: ED is frequently the first clinical manifestation of cardiovascular disease. The penile arteries are small — about 1–2mm in diameter. Endothelial dysfunction and early atherosclerosis affect small vessels before large ones. An otherwise healthy 45-year-old who develops new-onset ED without an obvious psychological cause deserves a cardiovascular workup, not just a prescription.
This perspective shapes how he approaches medical content. Information about tadalafil isn't just about picking a dose. It sits within a larger clinical context — one where the presenting symptom points upstream to root causes that may need their own attention.
Editorial Role at MensRxGuide.com
Dr. Sterling reviews all clinical content published on MensRxGuide.com. His involvement isn't cosmetic — he reads drafts, flags inaccuracies, updates dosing and guideline references when evidence changes, and pushes back when the tone leans too promotional rather than informational. The goal of this site has always been the same as his goal in the exam room: give a man enough accurate information to have an intelligent conversation with his own doctor.
He has no financial relationships with Eli Lilly, Pfizer, or any pharmaceutical manufacturer. His editorial position is independent.