Not Getting Full Erection: Find Out Causes and Deal With It!

Psychological Problems

Anxiety, stress and erectile dysfunction are interrelated to one another and there is a possibility that ED can be caused because of anxiety and stress. Men suffering from anxiety or high stress levels usually suffer from high cholesterol and blood pressure too which can both make him more vulnerable to ED.

The causes of stress are different for everyone. Some people stress over financial concerns while others feel anxious and stressed when facing a relationship issue. Whatever the reason, the effect of stress on the body is always a negative one.

ED is among the manifestations of the damage that is done to the body by anxiety and stress. It is a never-ending cycle though as not getting full erection is likely to make a man more anxious and stressed out, leading to further ED problems.

The following are some of the anxiety causing life stressors which might result in ED:

• Stress, loss or job issues

• Relationship conflicts and issues

• Loss or illness of a relative or friend

• Fear of growing old

• Financial concerns

Physical Problems

Around 80% of the erectile dysfunction cases are caused by physical issues. Men older than 50 years often suffer from erectile dysfunction caused by physical problems like:

• Adverse effects of taking medicines for depression or high blood pressure

• Use of illegal drugs, tobacco and alcohol can result in smaller erections

• Blood vessel issues might stop blood from entering the penis or remaining there long enough to keep an erection

• Neurologic problems can stop or disrupt the traveling of arousal signals to the penis from the brain and spinal cord

• Injury to the spinal cord, surgery complications and nerve damage because of diabetes can result in erection problems as well

• Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease are nerve disorders which affect the ability of a man to hold an erection and can also diminish his sexual desire

• Issues with penis structure or the tissues surrounding it

• Hormonal issues like having low levels of testosterone hormone

• Prostate complication or injuries to the pelvic area that affect the flow of blood or nerve impulses to the penis

Deal With it at Home

Sometimes it is possible to treat sporadic episodes of erection issues at home without the help of a doctor. However, involving your partner is important. Talking to the partner, examining your life events and relationships and trying out sensual exercises with your partner are some of the ways in which you could help yourself. If the erection issues become chronic then don’t shy away from seeking immediate professional help.

Change Life Styles

Making lifestyle changes can help in improving erection problems like not getting full erection. These include:

• Weight loss for overweight people

• Quitting smoking totally

• Limiting the consumption of alcohol

• Avoiding intake of illegal drugs

• Regular exercise

• Lowering stress levels

All of these lifestyle changes are going to improve your health in general and minimize the risk of cardiovascular diseases in addition to improving your erectile dysfunction.

Counsel a Psychological Consultant

Since emotional and sexual issues can contribute to erection issues like penis not getting hard, taking part in psychosexual counseling along with your partner can help too. It is a kind of relationship therapy in which you and your partner talk about these issues and try to minimize the anxiety which is causing the erectile dysfunction.

The counselor can offer practical sex advice to you too like how to effectively use other erectile dysfunction treatments for improving your sex life.

Psychosexual counseling takes time and there is no guarantee that it would work for you.

Use Medication

For many men the most successful treatment for erectile dysfunction is intake of oral medications like:

• Avanafil (Stendra)

• Vardenafil (Staxyn, Levitra)

• Sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio)

• Tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca)

All of these medications increase nitric oxide effects in the body. It is a natural chemical produced by the body which relaxes penis muscles. This results in increased flow of blood, allowing you to get an erection when you get sexually stimulated. These medications are not to be confused with aphrodisiacs as they do not cause excitement and men with normal erections don’t really need them.

The side effects, dosages and potency of these medications vary from one another. Headaches, stomach upset, backache, flushing, visual changes and nasal congestion are some of the possible side effects of these medications.

There is a chance that erectile dysfunction medications might harm you or might not work for you at all. Therefore, it is important to inform your doctor before taking any OTC supplement, herbal remedy or erectile dysfunction medications.

If you have erectile issues, it is best to see your family doctor first. Consult your doctor immediately if:

• You are facing sexual issues like delayed or premature ejaculation or having problems with your erections

• You suffer from heart disease, diabetes or any condition that is associated with erectile dysfunction

• You are experiencing other symptoms in addition to erectile dysfunction