It can be frustrating to not get and keep an erection, but it is important to remember that boneers are individual and unique. Try to think about what arouses you or discuss the issue with your partner.
It is also important to address any health issues that might be affecting your ability to have an erection. For example, diabetes and heart disease can affect blood flow to your penis.
1. Stress
Stress can interfere with the brain signals that help make an erection. Stress can also interrupt the flow of blood to the penis, which can make it harder to get or keep an erection.
When you’re sexually aroused, your brain sends messages to the muscles of the corpora cavernosa (which contains the sponge-like material that forms an erection). These muscle contractions relax and the arteries that supply blood to this area open up. The blood fills these enlarged blood vessels and gets trapped under high pressure by a special tunica albuginea. This erectile tissue helps you stay hard during sexual activity. But if these muscles don’t contract, the erection goes away.
The same can happen during day-to-day stress. Your body can only handle so much pressure on its blood vessels before they get damaged, and your penis are no exception. Chronic stress can be like repeatedly using a fire hose to water your garden, and it’s a sure way to keep your erections from being as hard as they should be.
Certain medications can also affect a person’s ability to have erections. This includes some drugs for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and some antidepressants. Smoking, being overweight and lack of exercise can also contribute to erectile problems.
2. Physical exhaustion
Many different parts of the body must work together to have an erection during sex. If you are very tired, it can interrupt this process and lead to a flaccid penis during sex. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet that includes heart-healthy foods, and exercising regularly can improve sexual responsiveness. If these methods aren’t helping, talk to a medical professional from a clinic like Brook about medications that treat erectile dysfunction (ED).
It’s also important to make sure that you are aroused and that your partner is also in the mood for sex. If you are not, it can be hard to stay hard, even if your penis are erect. Changing the music, trying new positions and foreplay can all encourage arousal. It’s also a good idea to be open with your partner about any problems you may be having in the bedroom. It’s not fair to hide these issues from them and it can make sex less enjoyable for everyone.
A prolonged erection that won’t go away is called priapism and it needs to be treated as a medical emergency. This type of erection can damage the blood vessels and nerves in your penis and cause permanent problems with erections. Taking an over-the-counter medication can help with this condition. If you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, talk to your doctor about the medications that you are on and how they might affect your sex life.
