Guys, we need to have an honest talk together. We’ve all been there. We’ve got someone we fancy in our beds. They give us that smile, their eyes are inviting. You’re ready, they’re ready, you want each other, and you want each other right now. But, when the time comes to perform, something goes wrong downstairs. We’re not going to beat around the bush about it (though, we will be making plenty of euphemistic jokes), you deserve better than that. Sometimes, your penis just plain doesn’t cooperate with you when you need it most. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is having a hard time getting the memo (and subsequently is not having a hard time).
The good news is that it happens to pretty much everybody from time to time, and that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. That’s a grand secret that nobody likes to acknowledge, but we think that a frank conversation about it is the best way to destigmatize it. Everyone has trouble staying hard sometimes. It can be embarrassing in the moment, and can definitely be frustrating when it gets in the way of a sexual encounter, but here’s the thing: it’s completely normal. It happens sometimes, especially as you get older. As you can see here, it’s one of the most common sexual health issues in the world.
Fortunately, there are things you can do about it! Erectile dysfunction doesn’t have to be anything more than an easily mounted hurdle. In this article we’ll explore some ways for you to maintain your ongoing sexual health and minimize the risk of the occasional mishap. We’ll be discussing sexual health in a frank, straightforward way, so consider this your content warning! If you have occasional bouts of erectile dysfunction, there are natural ways you can help yourself fix the problem. No method is 100% effective 100% of the time, but these steps can help. If you have more chronic, ongoing erectile dysfunction, there are medical options you can explore. Either way, taking your sexual health firmly in hand is not only possible, but a normal part of a healthy intimate life.
Still here? Fantastic! It’s going to get explicit from here on out, so let’s get to it.
Easy Come, Easy Go
There are two major problems that people with penises have when engaging in intimacy: difficulty maintaining an erection and premature ejaculation. These are two separate problems, but can sometimes be connected by a root source problem, and both can be treated naturally through specific techniques. There’s more to talk about with erectile dysfunction, so in this article premature ejaculation will come first. Getting overexcited during sex can lead to an early release, which under the worst of circumstances can spoil the mood. This is especially common during your first time with a new partner, but typically over time the problem solves itself as you grow more accustomed to your partner. If that happens to you, don’t worry! You’re in the clear.
If it’s an ongoing problem, though, you may need to consider behavioral techniques that can help. One method that’s shown a lot of promise is the stop-start method, which is exactly what it sounds like. Engage in sexual activity as you normally do, and when you feel the initial stages of the urge to ejaculate, slow down or stop what you’re doing. Give your penis the chance to rest and recover until the urge passes, then ease yourself back into full activity. Repeat this process until you and your partner are ready for you to climax. Not only can this help delay release, but the constantly building anticipation may even make your orgasm even stronger than usual.
A Healthy Mind is a Healthy Body
For erectile dysfunction, treatment becomes a little bit more complex. While there are natural ways to treat the condition, their efficacy depends entirely on why you’re experiencing it in the first place. There are generally two reasons a person experiences it: psychological and medical. Incidentally, the same thing is true of premature ejaculation as well. Unfortunately, there are no immediately effective behavioral techniques that can help erectile disfunction the same way you can with premature ejaculation. However, there are still steps you can take to help you body naturally handle the problem, though they are less in-the-moment actions and more ongoing lifestyle changes and psychological understanding.
Most instances of difficulty maintaining an erection are rooted in external reasons. Stress is the most powerful boner killer out there. Stress has a negative impact on almost all areas of your health, not just your sex life. That said, people’s sex lives are some of the most common casualties of an unhealthy amount of stress in other areas of their lives. When we’re under a lot of pressure our bodies flood with hormones and chemicals, like cortisol, that damages out body’s ability to function optimally. For your penis, this means that getting and staying hard can be difficult, if not impossible. This is especially insidious, as failure to perform sexually not only denies us the kind of stress relief that only sex can give, but increases the overall amount of stress we experience. Great, now we have one more thing to worry about!
Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce stress. We know, that’s significantly easier said than done. Other health issues can also create an uncharitable bodily environment for your penis. Conditions like diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure can lead to trouble with your penis. Usually, treating those conditions will naturally treat erectile problems. Maintaining a healthier lifestyle, including proper diet and exercise, is a great way to improve your overall health, including your sexual health. For exercise, simple walking or jogging every other day is usually a great start. For your diet, lean foods like fish, vegetables, and certain fruits will help. You should eat plenty of green veggies and vitamin-rich fruit to help with your erections, and you should eat plenty of pineapple for when the other methods work.
Finally, your mental health has a lot to do with your sexual health. One of the most insidious saboteurs of your penis is low self-esteem. Anxiety over sexual performance can ironically cause difficulties performing, which is frankly one of the most unfair glitches in human sexuality. You can literally convince yourself to have problems in the bedroom without realizing that you’re doing it. There’s no easy way to treat this, nor is it something you can treat on your own. If you have psychological blocks to your bedroom performance, you need to discuss them with a mental health professional. In other words, getting right in the head is the best way to get right in the head.
Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News
In some cases, medical intervention is necessary. This can be anxiety inducing, but don’t worry. We live in an age full of miraculous advancements in medicine. Don’t be fooled, there are plenty of advertisements out there for faux medical solutions that don’t actually work. You don’t need to stoop to gas station pills or sham medical devices to treat your erectile disfunction. If you have ongoing chronic issues maintaining an erection or ejaculating too early, your absolute best bet is to talk to your doctor about what to do moving forward.
The important thing to keep in mind is that there’s nothing to be ashamed of if you experience problems initiating or maintaining a proper erection. It happens to most people with penises sometimes, and a high percentage of people on a chronic level. You have options for treating it, and those treatments are effective and safe. You can regain control of your sexual health without having a hard time doing it.