Not Getting an Erection? It doesn’t have to be erectile dysfunction

Great performance in bed is universally thought as a measure of manhood. It is no surprise then that when a man cannot achieve an erection, his immediate fear is that he’s suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED).

ED is more common in the older group of men; however, it is quite common in young men as well. Yet not getting and maintaining an erection is not necessarily a sign of ED. Experts suggest that this could simply come down to psychological and environmental reasons.

Possible Reasons for Poor Sexual Performance

1. Too Much Alcohol

‘Whisky dick’, is a situation where one cannot hold an erection due to too much alcohol consumption. A bit of booze is good to ease the tension and calm the nerves. Too much of it however, is a disadvantage.

It decreases the flow of blood to the penis and acts as a depressant to the central nervous system. This leads to a hard time getting an erection. While just a bit of alcohol may be good to allow for the lowering of inhibitions, one must be careful to not overdo it. It is widely suggested that men should stick to about 2 drinks per day.

2. A New Partner

Being with someone new is often both exhilarating and terrifying. There is always the pressure to outdo oneself which could actually work against a man.

Insecurity, perhaps due to the fear that the penis size may not be large enough, could be a psychological block. Previous past experiences that were less than legendary could also hamper one’s present performance.

3. Stress and Fatigue

Stress is one of the most common killer of a healthy bedroom relationship. Long working hours and too much workload often lead to sex deteriorating. Fatigue results in all the body energy being directed to main organs and functions, with the penis being at the bottom of that list.

In addition, stress may increase the cortisol level, which limits the effects of testosterone, automatically leading to problems maintaining an erection. The solution for stress is simple – to work out its cause and actually have more sex (It helps to reduce stress).

4. Medication

Certain medications may interfere with the ability to get and maintain an erection. High blood pressure medication such as beta-blockers and diuretics are an example of these. They interfere with the sympathetic nervous system and blood vessel walls, which can reduce blood flow to the phallus.

Antidepressants can also cause a dip in libido. These include serotonin uptake inhibitors like Prozak and Lexapro, which reduce testosterone levels. One is advised to seek the advice of a doctor for better options, should these be getting in the way of a healthy sex life.

5. Masturbation

Prolactin is a hormone that is released after an orgasm. It has been linked to difficulties in maintaining an erection or ejaculating, according to a study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research.

If one has recently masturbated, the spike in this hormone is suspected to be reason for the inability to get it up. The only remedy is to wait for the resetting of systems before getting any action going.

So if you have suffered a couple of moments when your penis lets you down, don’t panic just yet, try and eliminate the above issues and see if that will help. Should the situation persist be sure to seek medical advice as soon as possible for appropriate treatment. Remember, even if you actually have ED, it can be treated.