20 year old with ED?

OK, so I am a healthy 20 year old and for the past year and a half or almost 2 years i have not been able to get a full erection without the help of some type of over the counter pill (viagra cialis livetra) now almost 2 years ago, i had full erections all the time. Morning afternoon and night. In the middle of class, in church. all the time. I masterbate normally i think for a 20 year old. no more than twice a day, and sometimes skipping 3 or 4 days at a time. I had sex with my partner wonderfully, with no problems. Now, I can get an erection with a pill but when i get the condom out it goes down, it seems without constant attention my penis doesnt react even with over the counter help. I cannot even arouse myself anymore. I dont know what to do. I have never heard of a 20 year old with ED problems, and i always thought it occured in older men. sometimes it feels like i should have an erection but its just as normal as it can be and none occurs. so i feel like im still sexually aroused but no erection is present. can that be a vascular problem? with the help of a pill i have an erection but not near the effect i used to have naturally. The penis is not as straight and has more of a bend. Not an upwards bend but downwards, so i feel that it is not Peyronies, I am a very active person, i was a 3 letter athlete in high school, and i continue to work out. I know i am in good shape and this just stumps me. Also i am not under any stress what so ever, and for it to last 2 years just seems like it would be more of a physical problem. I have a risk of heart disease in my family, and have been around smoking all my life. can this be a hardening of the arteries (Atherosclerosis) I know this can occur in the pelvic region. I have tried other forums but no doctors respond. PLEASE HELP!

[Janice M Epp, PhD]

Michael:

"Impotence" is not a word I use. If you look it up in the dictionary, it means "powerless." I fail to see how this term can cause anything but pain and sadness. You're not powerless simply because you don't get erections on command.

First, this is not a medical forum, and it sounds like you may have a medical condition. I see that you posted in the Urology Community Forum, but this isn’t where you’ll get an answer from a urologist. Please repost your question in the Urology Expert Forum:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/113

No one can diagnose your condition without a full exam, and I suggest you schedule one with a urologist in order to determine just what’s going on. You certainly may have vascular problems due to smoking (a really bad idea) and family history of Atherosclerosis. Combine these two, and you’ve got a recipe for trouble.

Regarding self-pleasuring: there is no “normal” amount. Everyone is different. Whatever works for you is part of your unique sexual being. Don’t try to compare yourself with others; that’s a no-win proposition.

You don’t mention whether you’re getting morning erections. If you ARE, that’s an indication that there’s either little or no physiological damage. If you’re not getting morning erections, that could be a sign that there's some damage.

You also need to ask yourself if there’s anything different about your life now versus two years ago that would affect your comfort with sex. There are many things that can affect erections, including depression, relationship conflicts, etc.

If it were MY penis, I’d want some answers, and I’d get to a urologist ASAP to rule out any medical condition. Good luck to you. Dr. J

[Michael224]

instead of ED, i guess the correct word for that is impotence?

[Michael224]

Thanks a lot. ill definitely repost in that forum. And no i dont have morning erections anymore. they stopped about all the same time as this started happening. i dont smoke but i have been around second hand smoke all my life. both my parents smoke, and i believe that could have an effect. Ill definitely go get looked at. thanks for the advice!

[Michael224]

Also i tried to post in the expert urology forum but it keeps saying its full, is there a certain time i need to post in this section?

[Janice M Epp, PhD]

Keep trying your post in the Urology Expert Forum. I believe there's a daily limit to the number of questions. However, since you're not having morning erections, you should definitely get yourself to a urologist. I think in this case, online information, while helpful, is not going to be able to take the place of an exam. Dr. J

[Michael224]

Ok, Thank you very much you've been a really big help!

[Michael224]

Also do you know if it is normal that after orgasm, when you use the restroom for it to burn when you urinate?

[Kittavarus]

No. It should not burn at all. That is not a good sign and if I was you I would see a doctor like... yesterday!

[Janice M Epp, PhD]

Michael:

Burning is a sign of irritation or infection.