Could stress be causing my erectile dysfunction?

You’ve got a major report due Friday, and your computer just crashed on Thursday. The boss has been in an out of your office all week, emphasizing that he’s depending on you. Your partner isn’t able to pick up the kids from school, so you need to leave early to get them. Also, your in-laws are coming to stay with you for a while.

When you’re feeling stressed, it can be difficult to focus on anything else. You can feel like your obligations are mounting, and there simply isn’t enough time in the day to take care of everything.

Stress can become so all-consuming that it can begin to leak into other aspects of your life. You may struggle to fall asleep at night, or maybe you aren’t as hungry as you used to be. Stress can even invade the bedroom.

When a man has a head full of stress, it can become distracting. So distracting, in fact, that your body can opt to focus on the stress instead of achieving an erection. Yes, your stress can become so overwhelming that it can actually begin to physically affect your body.

What’s worse, stress induced ED is a slippery slope. When a man finds he can’t achieve an erection, this can lead to more stress, which can just cause the problem to get worse.

If stress is affecting you in the bedroom, you must find a way to cope with the stress. Find a way to prioritize your tasks, relax, and get your mental headspace in order. Everyone copes with stress differently. It’s important to find a way to overcome these feelings, especially if your erection starts to suffer because of it.

Can premature ejaculation affect my testosterone levels?

Back in your glory days, your bedroom trysts seemed to last for hours, becoming a blur of fun and satisfaction. But as of late, your time between the sheets seems to be… shorter. You can’t put your finger on it, but something is causing you to reach your breaking point quickly. That results in a disappointed you, a disappointed partner, and stress galore.

So you might have premature ejaculation, you think. You recall a friend at the gym telling you that premature ejaculation can lead to your testosterone levels plummeting. When your testosterone takes dip, he’d say, it’s all over. You won’t want to have sex anymore, your beard will fall out, and you’ll lose your muscles.

But don’t let this idle talk get to you. While you’re sure you’ve seen a beard hair or two fall out, it’s all in your head.

The simple fact is: Premature ejaculation does not cause lowered testosterone levels.

If you’re struggling with premature ejaculation, you won’t have to worry about insult being added to injury. Studies have found no connection between premature ejaculation and testosterone levels, so worry not.

That’s not to say that premature ejaculation isn’t worrisome. If you suddenly find it difficult to last in the bedroom, talk with a doctor. Together, you can figure out the cause of this issue, be it physical or psychological, and devise a way to overcome it.

But if you finish a little quicker in the sheets, at least you’ll know your beard isn’t going anywhere.

Is it true that bicycling can lead to erectile dysfunction?

You might have heard this old wives tale before: If you bike too much, you’re going to develop erectile dysfunction. While this may sound absurd, don’t be so quick to write this rumor off entirely. Turns out, there’s a kernel of truth hidden in this tall tale.

While biking in and of itself won’t lead to your erection withering, ED can develop if you bike incorrectly. Specifically, if you don’t have the right kind of seat on your bike, you can truly develop erectile dysfunction.

Yes, the seat on your bike could play a major factor in your erectile health. This is because the seat of your bicycle comes into close contact with very sensitive areas of the body.

When you sit on your seat, you put a large percentage of your weight on the perineum, which is the soft area located between the scrotum and the anus. This section plays a vital part in erectile function, due to the fact that a large cluster of nerves and arteries leading to the penis are found in the perineum.

When you put weight on the perineum for long periods of time, you’re compressing this jumble of nerves. Long term pressure on the perineum can lead to permanent damage in the arteries and nerves. When these arteries and nerves are damaged, that prevents blood from getting to the penis, which causes, you guessed it, erectile dysfunction.

But you don’t need to throw your bike away just yet. If you’re an avid bicyclist and you want to prevent ED, trade up your hard, narrow seat for something softer and wider. A seat that conforms to your body and offers more sitting room will relieve pressure from the perineum, ensuring that your hobby won’t lead to the loss of your erection.

Can poor dental hygiene lead to erectile dysfunction?

You know the old song that lists what bones are connected to what? Knee bones connected to the leg bone and whatnot? Well, it turns out that there are parts of your body that are connected to each other that didn’t make it into that catchy tune.

For instance, your mouth and your penis. They’re pretty much on opposite ends of the body, but it turns out they are more connected than you would suspect.

In a study published in the online compendium Journal of Sex and Medicine, researchers revealed that a link had been found between poor dental hygiene and erectile dysfunction.

Scientists studied rats with periodontitis, which is a severe inflammation of the gums. This gum disease leads to increased inflammation within the body, which can lead to various health conditions, such as heart disease. Heart disease can lead to complications with blood flow, which can lead to, you guessed it, erectile dysfunction.

Furthermore, it was found that periodontitis lead to decreased levels of the enzyme eNOS in the rats. This enzyme is responsible for producing nitric acid, which helps to regulate blood flow. If eNOS decreases, blood flow slows, and erections become difficult.

While the lead researcher on the study stressed that these findings are so far only conclusive in rats, the team intends to follow up the study with an investigation into the effect of periodontitis on the erectile ability of human men.

So if you’re looking to protect your erection, make sure to keep your chompers looking nice. Brush twice every day, floss, practice good dental hygiene, and your erection will thank you.

Could my erectile dysfunction be a sign of something worse?

For most people, erectile dysfunction is commonly associated with growing older, a natural part of the aging process. For others, it’s the occasional missed erection after a few drinks too many.

But the stark truth is that erectile dysfunction is no laughing matter. Capable of striking at any moment, ED is a serious affliction with serious consequences. Losing your erection can be a deeply embarrassing problem, but ED can be even worse than simply losing your erection.

In fact, ED can oftentimes be an indicator of something much, much worse.

While many men would be quick to write off a bout of erectile dysfunction as being caused by a poor diet or stress at the office, it would be wise to not be so flippant about your ED.

ED has been linked to a litany of health problems. Research has found that ED can be a byproduct of serious diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and even prostate cancer. Experts have found that ED can even be an early warning sign for developing neurogenic diseases such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.

Bottom line: ED isn’t always dangerous, but it could be. While the occasional missed erection is no reason to start drafting out your will, it would still be wise to speak to a medical professional about your problem. While talking to a doctor about losing your erection can be embarrassing, it could very well save your life.

How can I last longer in bed when I have premature ejaculation?

When you find yourself suddenly unable to last very long in bed, it can be deeply embarrassing. Premature ejaculation can feel like an unbeatable affliction, but the truth is quite the opposite. With healthy living, consultation with a doctor or a mental health expert, and resilience, you can overcome this problem.

But what do you do in the interim? Sure, you’re making all the changes you need to make, but it’s not like your premature ejaculation is going to disappear overnight.

While you work to get rid of your premature ejaculation once and for all, here are some handy methods to help you last a little longer in bed. These aren’t permanent solutions, but they can help.

Stop and Go: The Stop and Go technique will not only help you to stop from finishing too early, it may also add an exciting spark to your love life. It works like this: When you or your partner feels an orgasm approaching, stop cold turkey. Disengage, step back, and catch your breath. Your body will come back from the orgasm precipice, and after taking a moment or two to collect yourself, you’ll be ready to go again.

Squeeze Technique: The squeeze technique can be a little more hit or miss than the Stop and Go, but it’s a method worth trying. When you feel like you’re about to reach your peak, squeeze the head or the base of the penis. This pressure will disrupt your excitement, and will prevent ejaculation. It can be difficult to time your squeezing perfectly, but you’ll get better at it with time.

What can I do to prevent erectile dysfunction if I have diabetes?

For those afflicted with diabetes, the condition can already feel like a full time job. You have to watch what you eat, you have to keep a close eye on your blood glucose level; Diabetes can really feel like a handful.

To add insult to injury, diabetes is one of the most commonly linked ailments to erectile dysfunction. Research has found that about 35%-75% of men with diabetes will experience some degree of erectile dysfunction during their lifetime. Additionally, it has been found that men with diabetes typically develop ED about 10 to 15 tears before men without diabetes.

No matter how you cut it, if you’re a man with diabetes, you are at an increased risk for erectile dysfunction.

But having diabetes doesn’t mean you’ll inevitably lose the ability to achieve an erection. In fact, by living healthy, you won’t have to worry about losing your erection for many, many years.

So how does a man with diabetes prevent ED from developing? Simple: It’s all about your blood sugar. That magic little number you get when you test yourself relates to your glucose levels. For men with diabetes, your glucose levels can play an integral part in just about every aspect of your body.

If you want to prevent erectile dysfunction, you need to control your blood sugar. Eat healthy, slim down your portion sizes, cut out sugary sodas, and get active.

By living well, you’ll find your glucose levels will consistently be good. With good glucose levels, you’ll be able to live a happy, erectile dysfunction life for many, many years.

 

How can I determine the severity of my erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction isn’t just a standard, catchall medical issue. It comes in various forms of severity, and these various forms of severity are going to have varying issues. If you find you occasionally miss an erection, you wouldn’t have the same issues as a man who’s found he can no longer achieve an erection.

When you decide to consult a doctor about your ED, he’s going to quiz you on your issue in an attempt to ascertain the level of severity. If you want to be ahead of the game and be prepared for the questions your doctor is going to ask, here are some of the most commonly asked questions used for diagnosing ED severity.

Did your ED begin suddenly or develop gradually?: This will give your doctor a better idea of how your ED began. ED that began suddenly may indicate that there could be something wrong with you internally, while a gradual development could indicate mental issues causing your ED.

Do you wake up with an erection?: This question is important. If you’re capable of waking up with “morning wood” (to use the parlance of our times), then your erectile dysfunction isn’t physically caused.

Is penetration difficult 50%, 75%, or 100% of the time?: With this question, the doctor can begin to gauge the severity of your ED. Depending on your answer, your doctor can begin to figure out how serious your ED has become.

Do you experience any urinary issues?: Having trouble holding your urine? Do you find yourself using the restroom frequently? This could indicate that you’re having issues with your urinary tract, which could contribute to your ED.

Can tight underwear cause premature ejaculation?

You’ve heard the rumor before, and the logic seems sound, but you can’t decide if it’s true or if someone was simply pulling your leg. You’ve heard it from close friends, distant friends, cousins, enemies; everyone tells you to avoid tighty whitey underwear like your life depends on it, or, at the very least, your ability to last in the bedroom.

The legend is this: When you wear tight underwear, it draws your testicles up closer to the body. There, the testicles are warmed by the natural heat of the body. If you wear tight underwear for years and years, the logic goes, you’ll basically cook your testicles. This will cause your sperm count to get all wonky, which will translate to you finishing quicker during sex.

While this rumor isn’t entirely true, there are some nuggets of truth in it.

Yes, tight underwear can affect your testicles. Yes, the heat of your body can lead to complications with your testicles. But it won’t affect how you long you can do the deed. Instead, this warmth can lead to a lowered sperm count. As time goes on, your body’s heat will warm the testicles, which leads to sperm death. If you opt to wear underoos for years and years, it could eventually lead to infertility.

So while your ability to perform in the bedroom will be safe if you wear tight underwear, the same can’t be said for your sperm count. Do yourself a favor and switch up to boxers.

How can I last longer when I have premature ejaculation?

When it comes time for you and your partner to hop between the sheets, there is nothing worse than reaching your peak quicker than you were hoping to. For men who suffer from premature ejaculation, it can feel as if you no longer have control over how long you last during sex. While you used to be able to last for long periods of time, lately you’re finding that you’re tapping out after a couple pumps.

But worry not. Premature ejaculation is incredibly common, and there are a litany of workarounds for it. Below are some of the most common solutions for premature ejaculation.

Use a condom: While many men balk at using a condom, the simple fact is that this little rubber contraption can legitimately help you to last longer in the bedroom. Condoms put a barrier between the penis and the vagina, which reduces sensation in the penis. When sensation in the penis is reduce, you won’t have to worry about overstimulation, which translates into you lasting longer.

Kegel exercises: Research has found that kegel exercises can do wonders for men who suffer from erectile dysfunction or urinary incontinence, but it can also help with premature ejaculation. This is because kegel exercises strengthen your pelvic muscles, which allows for greater control downstairs. After toning up with kegel exercises, you’ll be able to reach your peak and reel it back in, all with pelvic control.

Masturbate: A temporary solution, but a solution all the same. Masturbating before sex will lead to the penis being less sensitive, which in turn can translate into you lasting longer in the sheets. By masturbating before getting down to business, you’ll ensure that your penis isn’t in any rush to climax, allowing you more time to enjoy the sex.