When a man has trouble staying hard during sex, it can be a very frustrating and embarrassing situation.
It is also surprisingly common, and not just amongst older men. Nearly 30 million men in the United States experience erectile dysfunction.
Fortunately, this issue is treatable. Keep reading to learn about strategies for addressing impotence and staying hard during sexual activity.
#1: Get More Exercise
The muscles in your cardiovascular system are responsible for enabling your blood flow. Your blood flow is only made possible by the muscles in your cardiovascular system.
Your heart contains cardiac muscles that perform the coordinated contractions (heartbeat) that pump blood throughout your body.
Exercising daily can greatly strengthen your heart and cardiac muscles, improving your circulation and erections. Try to get at least 160 minutes of moderate exercise a week.
#2: Eat a Healthier Diet
Erections – are extremely reliant on your blood flow –, so any foods that can have a negative impact on your circulation may hinder healthy erections.
A diet that is high in salty, sugary, fatty, fried, and processed foods can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. These medical conditions are heavily associated with erectile dysfunction.
Replacing these foods with more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish can greatly improve your blood flow and result in stronger erections.
#3: Stay in a Healthy Weight Range
Carrying around extra weight can have a dramatic effect on your overall blood flow and erections.
Your body mass index (BMI) is a calculation that’s based on your height and age. It can give you an idea of whether or not your weight is ideal or if you need to lose a few pounds.
A BMI of 25 or less is considered a healthy range. A number ranging from 25 to 30 would suggest overweight and 30 or higher as obese.
The higher that your BMI number is, the more likely you will experience erectile difficulties. A BMI of more than 30 is roughly three times as likely to experience erectile dysfunction as a man with a BMI of 25 or lower.
#4: Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential to your sexual health.
Whenever you sleep at night, your body and brain will rest, repair, and perform functions like testosterone production, which is needed for healthy erections.
Getting ample sleep also allows for normal nocturnal erections. Experts believe these erections are essential for bringing oxygenated blood to the penis and preventing the buildup of fibrotic scar tissue.
#5: Drink in Moderation
Having one or two drinks is unlikely to impact sexual performance, but drinking in excess can make it difficult to achieve an erection and stay hard during sex.
You see, while alcohol can help to calm your nerves and increase your sex drive, it can also interrupt the signals sent through your nervous system. This makes it harder to stay adequately stimulated.
Additionally, alcohol will thin your blood and lower the overall volume of blood in your body. While this will increase the amount of blood that flows into your penis, it will also increase the amount of blood that flows out of it as well.
If you are planning on having sex, it’s best to limit your alcohol consumption beforehand.
#6: Stop Smoking
Smoking is considered to be the leading cause of erectile dysfunction in men under the age of 40.
Tobacco smoke can hurt your heart and lungs, leading to reduced stamina and excess strain on your heart.
In addition, nicotine can cause plaque and other waxy substances to build up in your blood vessels, making them constrict. This can hinder healthy circulation – making it difficult to achieve and maintain an erection.
#7: Check Your Testosterone Levels
While there isn’t a direct link between testosterone levels and erections, the hormone plays a significant role in your sex drive and libido.
In the event that you aren’t able to stay erect during sex, it could be due to less than optimal levels of testosterone.
If you are having troubles with keeping an erection, consider getting your testosterone levels checked.
Testosterone replacement therapy is one way to increase testosterone levels and improve sexual function.
#8: Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises – exercises used to strengthen the pelvic floor – are commonly recommended after prostate surgery to help with bladder control and restore the strength of erections.
When performing Kegel exercises, you want to target the muscles you would use if you were to attempt to cut off urination midstream.
Once you locate the proper muscles, doing Kegel exercises is fairly simple.
First, clench and hold the muscles for a count of five seconds. Then, release and relax the muscles for another count of five seconds.
Repeat this process for 10 to 20 repetitions in order to create one set. Perform three or four sets daily.
#9: Use a Cock Ring
In order to achieve and maintain an erection, the amount of blood that flows into your penis needs to increase. If your blood flow isn’t strong enough, or if too much blood is leaving your penis, you won’t be able to maintain an erection.
That’s where using a cock ring can be really helpful. Cock rings, also known as constriction bands and tension rings, are rings worn around the penis, usually at the base. After you have achieved an erection, slipping on a cock ring can help trap the blood in your penis.
Cock rings are very commonly used with vacuum pumps. These devices will create a vacuum around the penis and draw blood into it, creating an erection.
For safety reasons, never wear a cock ring for more than half an hour. Wearing it any longer may result in permanent nerve damage.
#10: Take ED Medication
Taking a prescription ED medication such as Viagra and Cialis can help treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
These ED drugs, which all have generic equivalents, are classified as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. They work by blocking the functions of certain enzymes located in the walls of your blood vessels.
This helps expand and dilate the blood vessels of your penis, increasing the amount of blood flowing in and decreasing the amount of blood flowing out.
These medications are only available with a prescription and can have side effects like indigestion and back pain.
If you are currently taking any medications for high blood pressure or angina, particularly nitrates or blood thinners, you shouldn’t take any PDE5 inhibitors.
How Rex MD Can Help
Many factors, including underlying medical conditions like heart disease, can make it difficult to stay hard during sex.
Fortunately, there are many avenues for treating erectile dysfunction and getting your sex life back on track. Rex MD helps guys get ED treatment quickly and discreetly. Not to mention, you won’t even have to leave your home.
