Obviously, as guys, we think about our penis a lot. We’re constantly touching it, adjusting it, jacking it, and finding ways and means to get off and shoot a load of cum.
However, most guys generally don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how their penis actually works. How does the penis go from soft to hard? If everything is working properly, it all just seems to magically happen when you need it – and frequently when you don’t.
But if your penis isn’t getting hard when you need it, this can be a source of major anxiety. If you’re not confident that you’re going to be able to sustain an erection, this can have a huge impact on your sex life, your social life, and your mental health.
How does my penis go from soft to hard?
An erection is the stiffening and rising of the penis. This occurs during sexual arousal, although it can also happen in non-sexual situations. Spontaneous or non-sexual erections can occur due to friction with clothing, a full bladder, or nervousness. It’s also normal for guys to get erections while sleeping and upon waking.
The physiological mechanism that creates an erection is the dilation of the arteries that supply blood to the penis. This dilation allows additional blood to fill the three spongy tissue chambers in the penis, causing it to lengthen and stiffen. The now-engorged erectile tissue presses against and constricts the veins that carry blood away from the penis. More blood enters than leaves the penis until an equilibrium is reached – you now have an equal volume of blood flowing into the dilated arteries and out of the constricted veins. This is what gets your penis hard and keeps it hard until the additional blood is released from the erectile tissue chambers.
Why can’t I get an erection?
If you’re having problems getting or sustaining an erection, it’s important to remember that this is actually really common – most guys will experience some form of erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives.
One of the complexities about erectile dysfunction is that there’s lots of factors that might be at play – it could be physical factors, psychological factors, lifestyle factors, or a combination of all three.
Physical factors that could be impacting your erections could include weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, prostate cancer, low testosterone levels, or side-effects from medication.
Psychological factors that could be impacting your erections could include stress, anxiety, or depression.
Lifestyle factors that could be impacting your erections could include smoking, alcohol, drugs, or fatigue.
If you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction only occasionally, then you might be able to figure out the likely issues – maybe you were really tired, maybe you’d had too much to drink – but if it’s happening regularly then you need to see a doctor to try and get to the bottom of the problem and make sure that there’s nothing more serious going on.
How common is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction can strike at any age, but becomes significantly more prevalent as you get older. The National Health Service in the UK estimates that around 40 percent of men who are over 40 experience erectile dysfunction some of the time – and the older you get, the more likely you are to have problems in the erection department.
How can I improve my erections?
Even if your erections are working perfectly, it’s never too early to start taking some steps to try and avoid problems later in life.
Focusing on the health of your body is an obvious but fundamental way of ensuring that you can achieve erections when you need them. This means that you should quit smoking, get regular exercise, maintain a healthy diet, limit your alcohol intake, and get plenty of sleep.
Your mental health also plays a key role in your sex life. If you’re feeling stressed, or if you’re battling with anxiety or depression, get some help to get things back on track before it starts to impact the functioning of your erections.
Make sure that you’re getting regular check-ups from a doctor. Regular health-checks will help to monitor things such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol – all of which can be factors that could impact your erections. Having a health check once a year will help identify any changes that your body may be experiencing as you get older.
Are there any side-effects to taking Viagra?
One of the most common treatments for erectile dysfunction is Sildenafil – a pharmaceutical medication which is sold as Viagra. Other variations of this medication are sold as Levitra, or Cialis.
This type of medication is described as a PDE5 inhibitor. The medication works by blocking an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 as well as boosting a chemical in your body called nitric oxide. The effect of the medication encourages the muscles in your penis to relax, allowing blood to flow freely so that you can achieve and sustain an erection.
Taken orally, Sildenafil is very effective – the National Health Service in the UK advises that Sildenafil can be used to effectively manage erectile dysfunction in at least two-thirds of cases.
Some of us have also been known to take Sildenafil or related products when we’re hooking-up, or going to a sex party – just to ensure that we’re bringing our A-game to the encounter.
Like any medication, you may experience some side-effects from taking Sildenafil or related products. This could include nausea, dizziness, an upset stomach, headaches, or muscle aches. If you’re experiencing side-effects, speak with your doctor to adjust your medication.
