What are erection problems?
Getting and maintaining an erection hard enough for sex is complex. The body has to send the right signals to the brain and blood has to flow into the penis.
Sometimes these things don’t happen the way you need them to. That’s when erection problems (EPs) occur.
What’s the difference between ‘erection problems’ and ‘erectile dysfunction’?
Nothing at all. Erectile dysfunction is the medical term for erection problems.
What causes erection problems?
The short answer is reduced blood flow to the penis. But what causes that? A number of factors can contribute to EPs, or what doctors call erectile dysfunction (ED). Some are physical, while others have more to do with your mental wellness or from taking certain medications.
It’s important to know erection problems can happen to any man at any age. In fact EPs are remarkably common in younger men. By the age of 40, 4 in every 10 men may have some experience of EPs. Many of these men identify the stress of their professional and personal lives as a factor in their EPs.
Erection problems can put a strain on your relationship. They can also be a warning sign of a health condition or disease you might not be aware of. That’s why it’s important to take action and find a solution for your EPs. You should also talk to a pharmacist, as they’ll be able to provide further support.
Things you might have heard about erection problems
Erection problems aren’t talked about as openly as they should be. That’s why myths like these are able to spread:
EPs are only a problem for men over 60.
About 40% of men under 40 might tell you differently.
EPs are a reflection of your masculinity.
Wrong. EPs often occur due to health conditions – ones you might not even know you have. If you are experiencing EPs, talk to a pharmacist or make an appointment to see your doctor and discuss your health.
EPs have nothing to do with other health problems.
In fact EPs can result from issues to do with your physical health, your mental wellness, or from taking certain medications.
*Prevalence based on men reporting occasional and frequent difficulty getting or maintaining an erection [ref. Kantar TNS Omnibus Survey Dec 2010 – in a survey of 1033 men].
Erection problems:
a part of life
If you can’t get or keep an erection hard enough for sex, you might have erection problems (EPs). Doctors call this condition erectile dysfunction (ED).
Erection problems can be experienced in different ways. Some men:
- Don’t get an erection at all
- Get an erection that isn’t hard enough for sex
- Get an erection but can’t keep it long enough for sex
For some men with EPs it’s difficult to get or keep an erection every time they try to have sex. For others, EPs can happen every once in a while.
An estimated 4.3 million men in the UK suffer erection problems,* but many of them keep silent and try and ignore the problem – sometimes for years.
There’s no reason to be embarrassed or ashamed about EPs – they can be a part of life, and the good news is that treatments for them – or treatments for erectile dysfunction, as your doctor might refer to them as – can be successful in the majority of cases.
Erection problems and
Erection problems and your state of mind
Life brings a lot of pressures. Work, family, money, time: these are all things that can get on top of you. Even being in love can feel like an obstacle course sometimes. Erection problems (EPs) are often thought of as a physical condition with a physical cause, but even young, fit and healthy men with no underlying health conditions can experience them.
Poor mental wellness and psychological factors can play an important role in erection problems by interfering with how the brain signals a physical response – in this case, an erection. EPs caused by psychological triggers should be taken just as seriously as those caused by anything else. The good news is the cause of your EPs can usually be identified, often with the help of a pharmacist or doctor.
Some of the psychological issues that can contribute to erection problems include:
Things you can do
If you experience any of the these issues, consider the following options:
Is erectile dysfunction a type of erection problem?
No. Erection problems (EP) and erectile dysfunction (ED) are exactly the same thing. Erectile dysfunction is the term that doctors and pharmacists use when talking about erection problems.
Lifestyle choices and erection problems
The stress of daily life can result in behaviours that can contribute to EPs. These include:
Things you can do
Do any of the behaviors listed above apply to you? You might be able to reduce your risk of experiencing erection problems by making some positive changes to your lifestyle. Try to:
Erection problems and your body
Your overall physical health has an important part to play in your ability to get and keep erections hard enough for sex. After all, a healthy blood flow to the penis is what’s needed most for an erection.
There are many different physical conditions and diseases that can affect the blood vessels, muscles and nerves you need to be working properly in order to get an erection. Let’s look at some of the most common of these causes of erection problems (EPs) – or causes of erectile dysfunction (ED), as your doctor might call it:
Other physical conditions can also contribute to erection problems. Your pharmacist or doctor will be able to talk to you about them.