I'm having trouble staying erect during sex, what can I do?
If you’re like us, you’ve experienced the stigma around talking and learning about sex and admitting your curiosity. In these articles, we hope to add excitement and enjoyment in your life, by answering the sexual health questions you're too afraid to ask. Have additional questions? Contact our friendly "sexperts".
Erectile dysfunction is defined by difficulty in obtaining and/or maintaining an erect penis during sexual activity.
A penile erection occurs because sexual arousal causes the blood vessels in the penis to expand and increase the volume of blood retained in the penis. The penis is able to remain erect because, as it expands, the penis restricts the veins that normally carry blood out, so the penis becomes further engorged.
A decrease in erectile rigidity that cannot be explained by the normal aging process can also be a sign of erectile dysfunction or an underlying medical condition. Erectile issues can be caused by both psychological and/or biological factors. A healthy adult male should have regular erections during REM sleep. In order to know if this is happening for sure, you may need to take part in a sleep study. If nocturnal erections are non-existent, it may be an indicator that the erectile issues are more of a biological/physiological problem.
Having erection issues from time to time does not necessarily warrant concern. However, if erection problems are ongoing, markedly distressing, and/or causing personal or relationships problems it may be time to seek assistance. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about any issues you have with obtaining or maintaining an erection. Problems in this area may be an underlying symptom of another serious health condition that needs treatment.
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