Here’s how to determine if your loss of erection during sex is attributable to erectile dysfunction or some other cause. No matter what the case may be, there’s hope to regain near-normal sexual function.
Some men seem to have little difficulty getting an erection but find it almost impossible to keep that erection long enough to complete sexual activity. Men faced with this predicament can’t help but wonder if it meets the definition of erectile dysfunction.
According to the Urology Care Foundation, the official foundation of the American Urological Association, ED is defined as “trouble getting or keeping an erection that’s firm enough for sex.” Under that definition, the inability to maintain an erection certainly falls into the realm of ED. However, other factors can be involved.
Is It Intermittent or Persistent?
As with difficulty in getting an erection, it’s not really considered full-blown ED until it becomes a consistent pattern, so a persistent inability to keep an erection throughout sexual intercourse would qualify as possible ED. An occasional loss of erection during sex would not necessarily qualify.
According to ZavaMed.com, a U.K.-based telemedicine platform for patient-doctor dialog, the occasional loss of erection can be attributed to a number of factors, including stress, performance anxiety, fatigue, illness, too much alcohol, or the adverse effects of another medication.
As noted previously, it’s probably best not to worry about an occasional inability to maintain an erection. For the reasons listed above and more, this is something that happens to most men every now and then.
It May Be Time to See a Doctor
However, when the loss of erection during sex becomes a persistent pattern, it’s probably advisable to consult your doctor to try to pinpoint the cause. Common physical causes of erection loss, according to ZavaMed, include premature ejaculation, hormonal issues, elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, vascular compromise, and Peyronie’s disease. Peyronie’s is a condition in which scar tissue causes the penis to become curved in shape, and it is known to cause erection problems.
And the loss of an erection can also be attributed to certain psychological issues, such as a lack of sexual desire, performance anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or stress.
Many of these factors — both physical and psychological — can lead to full-blown erectile dysfunction. Unless you take proactive steps to treat these issues, you won’t know for certain whether your problem is temporary or more long-lasting in nature.
Don’t Give Up Hope
The good news is that whether these erection problems are a temporary phenomenon or a symptom of ED, you won’t have to give up an active sex life because of them. If they are indeed temporary, with your doctor’s help you can take steps to bring these causal factors under control and thus minimize the likelihood that you’ll lose an erection because of them.
And if your persistent loss of erection during sex is determined to qualify as full-blown ED, there are a number of treatments that can help you to continue near-normal sexual function. For most men, Viagra and the other oral ED medications known collectively as PDE5 inhibitors will be the easiest answer. For those with psychological issues, counseling may be needed to banish them.
You’ll Need a Prescription
To purchase Viagra or any of the other oral ED medications, you will need a prescription. You can get one from your doctor and then have it filled at your local pharmacy.
If the convenience of ordering your ED drugs online appeals to you, consider placing your orders through eDrugstore.com, an online facilitator that’s been in business since the late 1990s. If you have a prescription from your doctor, it can be faxed or scanned and emailed to eDrugstore along with your order. If you don’t yet have a prescription, eDrugstore can arrange a complimentary online consultation with a licensed U.S. physician who can authorize a prescription if appropriate. To learn more, visit eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page.
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