Category: Erectile Dysfunction

When the weather starts to warm up and you swap your snow boots for flip-flops, that means it’s time for a cook out. Any good cook out is going to need a good mix of food, and it seems someone inevitably brings watermelon slices for everyone to nosh on. While chowing down on watermelon, you hear the table next to yours talking about the fruit’s apparent “restorative” properties. Watermelon, they say, can affect your body like Viagra, and can produce rock-solid erections. You mark this talk down as idle gossip, but you begin to wonder if there’s any truth to this idea. Can a slice of watermelon really assist you in getting an erection?

The answer is “yes, theoretically.”

You see, watermelon is chock full of an amino acid called citrulline. When consumed, citrulline is converted into the amino acid arginine, which relaxes and dilates the blood vessels, which facilitates better blood flow. Erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra work in the same way, opening up the blood vessels so blood can reach the penis and achieve an erection.

So, since the arginine in watermelon works the same way as Viagra, surely you can eat enough watermelon and overcome erectile dysfunction, right? Well, that’s where the “theoretically” part comes into play.

Despite extensive research, erectile health experts have not been able to figure out how much watermelon it takes to achieve an erection. A 4-ounce serving of watermelon contains about 150 milligrams of citrulline, but that’s not nearly enough to open the blood vessels enough to overcome ED.

So, if you’re thinking about ditching your Viagra and investing in a watermelon garden, think again. You might need to eat a whole watermelon or two before your erection springs back to life, and by that point you’ll be so full that sex will be the last thing on your mind. Stick with the surefire thing and use your ED medication when it’s time to hop between the sheets.

You and your erection have been through a lot together. Whether it’s hiding it behind a book when called to the front of the class, or trying to get it to simmer down when you see your partner naked for the first time, you’ve been there for each other. Which is why it can be downright scary to think that one day your erection isn’t going to be as strong as it used to be.

Yes, as men grow older, their erection will begin to falter. While you used to deal with erections day in and day out, you’ll find it increasingly difficult to get it up as you age.

But when can you expect this dreaded erection killer to strike? In your 40’s? In your 50’s? You know it’s coming, but when?

Extensive research has been done on the median age for erectile dysfunction, and the general consensus seems to be that erectile health and sexual function begin to falter after age 50.

But that’s not to say that your erection is going to kick the bucket as soon as you hit 51. Research has found that most age-associated erectile dysfunction is due to underlying physical factors. Whether it’s a lifetime of smoking, eating poorly, avoiding physical exercise, or just generally living poorly, it can all lead to ED.

If you’re looking to avoid ED for quite some time, it’s time to make some positive lifestyle changes. Eat better, get active, quit smoking, drink in moderation; just live a good, healthy life, and you shouldn’t have to worry about erectile dysfunction for many years.

Whether you’re a boxer briefs or a tighty whities kind of guy, you’ve certainly heard the rumor that restrictive underwear can lead to problems in the bedroom. It’s a legend that’s as old as underwear, and it just won’t go away. While most men are quick to write off the rumor, it still manages to stick with you. “What if I’m hurting my erection by wearing underwear that’s too tight?” You may find yourself wondering. “Could my choice in underwear really lead to erectile dysfunction?”

Well, worry not, fellow men. Even if your underwear is ludicrously tight, you won’t have to worry about your erection paying the price.

But your sperm count is another matter entirely.

While tight underwear physically can’t cause erectile dysfunction to develop, it can lead to lowered sperm count.

This is because tight underwear pulls the testicles up to the body. The testicles hang loose from your body, and actually require a different temperature to function normally, which is typically around 2 to 7 degrees below that of the body. When your testicles are nuzzled up against your body, the internal temperature of the testicles will begin to rise. Eventually, your testicles will “overheat” and sperm will begin to die off.

Now, this isn’t instantaneous, so don’t think slipping into a pair of tight undies spells certain death for your sperm. Sperm death will occur if tight underwear is worn for long periods of time, typically over several years.

So if you ever want to have children, it would be wise to swap out your underwear for some boxer briefs.

For as long as there has been erectile dysfunction, there has been someone touting a plant or a root as an all-natural miracle cure. These remedies, originating primarily from China and Africa, are said to open up the blood vessels, encourage blood flow, and lead to rock hard erections, just like Viagra or Stendra.

But unlike Viagra or Stendra, these claims don’t have a whole lot of research to back them up. Despite existing for centuries, natural remedies haven’t been thoroughly investigated and tested. Some herbs used to treat ED have been found to cause side effects, while some roots can have dangerous side effects if taken with unrelated medication. The science around these natural remedies are hazy at best.

But that’s not to say that natural remedies can’t be useful for fighting erectile dysfunction. Natural ED treatments can help to overcome ED when used in conjunction with established ED-fighting methods, but should not be relied upon to best ED all on it’s own. For instance, if your erectile dysfunction is related to recent weight gain, noshing on some herbs and roots can help you to achieve an erection, but only through positive lifestyle changes will you manage to completely overcome ED.

If you wish to overcome your erectile dysfunction au natural, the truth is that you may spend years and plenty of money on purported miracle cures that ultimately don’t fix your problem. Furthermore, some of the natural remedies circulating on the market have been found to be risky, with some increasing chances of bleeding or leading to irregular heartbeats.

When it comes to erectile dysfunction, stick with the sure thing. Talk to your doctor about what ED medication might be best for you.

The beautiful thing about sex is that it can be completely and utterly spontaneous. You never know when feelings are going to strike, or when the timing is going to be perfect for you and your partner to slip away and have some fun.

But when you develop erectile dysfunction, spontaneous sex can prove difficulty. Sure, you can engage in plenty of foreplay, but eventually you’ll need to get down to brass tacks. If you rely on ED medication to achieve an erection, you may find yourself waiting for the drug to kick in.

And if you decided to chow down before popping that little pill, you might find yourself waiting even longer.

For medication to work, it must be digested by the body and dispersed throughout the bloodstream. For ED medication, once the pill has been digested and processed, your arteries will open up and blood flow will improve, which will make it easier for your body to achieve an erection.

But a full stomach slows this whole process down. If you take ED medication after a meal, your medication will essentially have to get in line. The food in your stomach will be digested and process first, and your little ED pill will have to wait for it’ turn.

Viagra typically takes 30 minutes to an hour to take effect, but if taken on a full stomach, you might yourself waiting for up to 2 hours for your erection to spring to life.

So if you’re looking to delay the effects of your erectile medication, then down the pill with a heavy meal. Otherwise, avoid food when ingesting ED medication or you could find yourself playing the waiting game.

So, you’ve finally decided to seek medical help for your erectile dysfunction. Worry not, fellow man. Medication such as Viagra and Levitra will help you regain your former erectile glory, and your partner won’t think any less of you for seeking outside help for your problem.

But when it finally comes time to pick your erectile dysfunction medication, the choices can be somewhat overwhelming. Should you go with Viagra? Or would Stendra better suit my needs? What about Levitra? Sure, they all ultimately do the same thing, but which one is right for me?

Well, each of the major erectile dysfunction medications have subtle differences that set them apart from each other. Here are some facts about these medications that can help you to determine which pill will work best for you.

Viagra

-Must be taken 30 mintes to 1 hour before sexual activity

-Effects are not instantaneous. Requires sexual stimulation to work

-If taken on a full stomach, it will take longer for the effects of Viagra to kick in

-Effects last up to 4 hours

Levitra

-Must be taken 30 mintes to 1 hour before sexual activity

– Effects are not instantaneous. Requires sexual stimulation to work

– If taken on a full stomach, it will take longer for the effects of Levitra to kick in

-Effects last up to 5 hours

Cialis

-Can be taken 15 minutes before sexual activity

– Effects are not instantaneous. Requires sexual stimulation to work

-Can be taken with or without food. If taken with food, this will not affect the dispersal time for the drug

-Effects last up to a day

Stendra

-Can be taken 15 minutes before sexual activity

– Effects are not instantaneous. Requires sexual stimulation to work

– If taken on a full stomach, it will take longer for the effects of Stendra to kick in

-Effects last up to 4 hours

Staxyn

-Must be taken an hour before sexual activity

– Effects are not instantaneous. Requires sexual stimulation to work

-Staxyn is not ingested. It is placed under the tongue, where it dissolves

-Effects last up to 4 hours

Maybe you’ve had a bit too much to drink. Maybe things have just been a bit stressful at the office. Maybe you’re just not in the mood. However you choose to justify it, there are a million different ways to write off a missed erection. After all, you might reason, not getting it up every once in a while isn’t anything to panic about.

Well, that missed erection could soon snowball into a full-blown problem. One missed erection becomes two, two becomes several, several becomes constantly. Before you know it, you aren’t able to get down to business between the sheets anymore and you’re kicking yourself over ignoring the issue in the first place.

There is always a catalyst for erectile dysfunction, and very rarely will the problem naturally go away. Something is causing you to miss erections, and it is important that you get to the root of the issue. Sitting idly by and assuming that the problem will work itself out is a recipe for disaster.

Whether it’s stress-related, due to feelings of insecurity, a poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, or a litany of other possible reasons, your erection can be reclaimed by taking the necessary steps to overcome the cause. Eat better, get active, confront your feelings; whatever you think you need to do, do it.

Erectile dysfunction can also be an early warning sign of a much more serious problem. Heart disease, diabetes, clogged blood vessels, and Parkinson’s have all been linked to erectile dysfunction. If you choose to wait it out, you could be doing irreparable damage to your body.

So guys, don’t wait and see when it comes to erectile dysfunction. Get serious about it, and work to overcome it.

When you first step foot in the chemotherapy treatment room, it can be downright scary. You’re going to be hooked up to a bag filled with cancer-combating chemotherapeutic agents, and you’re really not sure what the future is going to hold. You’ve heard that hair tends to fall out. You’ll get more sluggish. Your memory might not be what it used to. But there’s a side effect of chemotherapy that many men don’t seem to know about: erectile dysfunction.

Yes, chemotherapy can negatively affect other aspects of your body, including the ability to achieve an erection. Chemotherapy might also sap you of your sexual desire, further complicating your erectile chances.

This is because chemotherapy puts large amounts of stress on the body. Your body is basically working overtime to process these drugs, and is actively diverting all of its attention to eliminating the cancer from your body.

But fret not. Chemotherapy-induced erectile dysfunction is not permanent. As your body recovers from chemo, you should begin to see affected areas come back to normal. Chemotherapy side effects tend to resolve themselves after one to two weeks.

However, in rare instances, chemotherapy can cause major interference with the nerves responsible for controlling the erection. If your erectile dysfunction lasts more than two weeks after a chemotherapy session, consult your doctor immediately.

A new relationship can be exciting, fun, and downright scary. Since you’re still getting to know each other, it can feel as though you’re walking on eggshells. You worry if you’re saying the right things, or if you’re going to scare your partner off. Erectile dysfunction can further complicate this getting to know each other process, because the man afflicted with ED may feel as though his issue could be a deal breaker for his partner.

But if approached appropriately, erectile dysfunction should be seen as just another facet of who you are.

Make sure to broach the topic before things get too hot and heavy in the bedroom. While engaging in foreplay, take a moment to tell your partner about your ED. Stress that there are plenty of workarounds to this issue, and that you can explore your options if the problem should rear it’s ugly head.

Remember to emphasize that ED is not a reflection of how you feel about your partner. While a failing erection could be seen as the man not being into you, this is not the case. It’s a mental and physical problem, and it is in no way an indication of how the man feels.

Stress that your issue requires patience. Erections won’t always be instantaneous, and that you’ll need to work as a team to overcome the problem. If an erection simply isn’t in the cards that night, find another way you can be gratified as a couple, either through foreplay or cuddling.

Telling your new partner about your erectile dysfunction can be scary, but if your partner really cares about you and wants to stick around, your ED shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Taking your bicycle out for a spin is a healthy, fun way to stay in shape, go exploring, and get active. Whether you’re biking to work or just enjoying a relaxing Saturday ride, biking is the perfect balance of fun and healthy. But biking can lead to problems for some men. In fact, if you bike too much, you may find your erection paying the price.

That’s not to say that the act of biking is problematic for your erection. In actuality, it’s the kind of bike you ride that can lead to erectile health issues.

You see, biking depends upon you putting all your weight on the perineum, which is the scientific term for the area between the scrotum and the anus.. This area of the body contains a bundle of muscles, arteries, and nerves that all ultimately lead to the penis, and are vital for erections.

When you sit on a hard, unforgiving seat, you are putting stress on a very vulnerable part of the body. If you bike constantly, that’s constant pressure on an area of the body that your erections depend upon. If your bike has a hard, narrow saddle seat, you could be doing long-lasting damage to your erection just be biking daily.

Even if you don’t bike that much, you could still be at risk. A study found that erectile dysfunction risk was highest among men who cycled three hours or more a week.

That’s not to say you need to cut biking out of your life to save your erection. Simply invest in a better seat. A soft seat that conforms to your body will make for a comfier ride, and will relive the perineum of unnecessary stress.