If you can’t get or keep an erection that lasts long enough or is rigid enough for sex, you have erectile dysfunction.
Sexual dysfunction and ED become more common as you get older. Only about 5% of men age 40 have it. But the number rises to 15% of men age 70. This doesn’t mean growing older is the end of your sex life. Doctors can treat ED no matter your age. Age isn’t the only cause. Type 2 diabetes, obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure all make it more likely.
Premature Ejaculation
Premature ejaculation (PE) is when you have an orgasm before intercourse or less than a minute after you start. There is no set time when a man should ejaculate during sex, but if you ejaculate and lose your erection this soon, you and your partner may feel there’s not enough time to enjoy it.
It can be frustrating and even embarrassing, but it’s a common issue for men. Between 30% to 40% have it at some time in their life. So, keep in mind — it’s not something to worry about if it happens only occasionally.
Premature Ejaculation Causes and Risk Factors
The cause is not really known. But your brain chemistry could be at least partly the reason. Men who have low levels of the chemical serotonin in their brains tend to take a shorter time to ejaculate.
Emotional factors can play a role:
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Guilt
- Relationship problems
- Lack of confidence or poor body image
- Concern over your sexual performance
- Negative feelings about the idea of sex (sexual repression)
Premature Ejaculation Treatments and Remedies
Ninety-five percent of men are helped by behavioral techniques that help control ejaculation.
Stop and start:You or your partner stimulate your penis until you feel like you’re going to have an orgasm. Stop the arousal for about 30 seconds or until the feeling passes. Start the stimulation again and repeat three or four more times before you ejaculate.
The Squeeze:It works the same way as the start and stop method. But, when you feel like you’re reaching orgasm, you or your partner squeezes the head of your penis until you lose the erection. Repeat this a few times before ejaculating.
Some men find that if they think of something else during sex they can last longer.
If those don’t work for you, you can try a few other things:
Strengthen your muscles:Weak pelvic floor muscles sometimes contribute to PE. Kegel exercises may help strengthen them. Find the right muscles to tighten by stopping your urine in midstream. Hold them tight for 3 seconds and then release them for 3 seconds. Do this 10 times, at least three times a day.
Wear a condom:It may desensitize you enough so you can last longer.
Get busy before you “get busy”: Some men find that masturbating a few hours before sex helps them stay in control during intercourse.
Seek counseling:A psychologist or psychiatrist can help you work through problems like depression, anxiety, or stress that may be contributing to your PE.
Low Libido
A man’s sex drive may be suffering due to normal aging, depression, stress, hormones, and many other factors. Sometimes the solution may be a simple one, such as getting more sleep so you’re not so tired. Sometimes more treatment, such as therapy or medication, is needed. Your doctor can help you determine if there’s a problem and how to handle it. Follow the links below to find men’s clinic’s comprehensive coverage about how men’s libido works, what to do if you have low libido, and much more.
What Causes It?
Any number of things, some physical and some psychological. Sometimes it’s both.
Physical issues that can cause low libido include low testosterone, prescription medicines, too little or too much exercise, and alcohol and drug use. Psychological issues can include depression, stress, and problems in your relationship.
About 4 out of 10 men over age 45 have low testosterone. While testosterone replacement therapy remains somewhat controversial, it’s also a common solution to the problem.
“Replacement therapy with any of the various testosterones available can boost libido,” says M. Leon Seard, II, MD, a urologist in Nashville, TN. “Also, simply getting healthy can help.”
No one thing causes low libido. So it’s crucial to talk to your doctor if you’re worried your sex drive has dropped.Once they figure out the causes, they can tell you the best course of action, or refer you to another doctor who can.
How Is It Treated?
Depending on the cause, possible treatments include:
- Healthier lifestyle choices. Improve your diet, get regular exercise and enough sleep, cut down on the alcohol, and reduce stress.
- Change to a new medication, if the one you’re on is affecting your libido
- Testosterone replacement therapy
- Counseling
Your doctor may recommend therapy if the issue is psychological. In many cases, a low libido points to a desire for a closer connection with your partner — one that isn’t sexual, but still intimate. It can help to talk through these issues with a therapist, either alone or with your partner. If the issue is depression, antidepressants can help. Some of them actually lower your sex drive, though.
What about the meds you may have seen in TV and magazine ads, like Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra? These don’t boost libido. They help you get and keep erections.
Penis Enlargement
Penis enlargement surgery is a procedure that aims to increase the length or girth of the penis. Surgery may involve the insertion of silicone implants, the transfer of fat cells, or the use of skin grafts to increase the size of the penis or manhood.
Do you want a bigger penis? In one large survey a few years ago, about 40% of men said they did. And you can buy plenty of over-the-counter and even medical treatments that promise a larger penis. But do any of them really work?
Some of the things men use to increase penis size include:
- Vacuum penis pumps
- Penis weights
- Penis stretching exercises, called jelqing
- Supplements
- Creams
- Surgery