Real trouble maintaining a full erection

[jimbo101]

Hi everyone

I stumbled across this site from a Google search so here is my first post.

I'm a 32 year old male and in good shape.

For the past year or so I've had tremedous problems maintaining an erection.
I can achieve one but truthfully it takes a long time. Is that just an age thing? I hardly think 32 is "old"?
I haven't woken up with an erection in over a year either. I used to almost every day and they were rock hard! Is this a sign of problems?

I love the woman on top and missionary position but it's these positions that make me go soft in minutes. Some times I can only achieve a semi hard erection, around 70%.

I've been to my doctor and had blood tests done - all ok, no diabities plus cholesterol and testosterone was fine.
I've tried Cialis and Viagra which worked a treat but these are only temporary "fixes".

I've also noticed my urine stream isn't quite as powerful as it used to be.

Is it worth seeing a urologist?

While I suppose its all in my head a small part of me remains convinced there could be a physical cause.
Besides a GP, who could see for a checkup? I've heard about blood leaks from your veins. Where could I get an x-ray done to check?

What about the prostate? Does it have anything to do with ED? Who would check this?

What else could cause this?

Grateful for any advice

Greetings
Jim

[Dalubaba]

If moderation is maintained during all the time, then you will not get flip side. Do it once a day only.Both of you will enjoy better and will continue without a break.

[RandomReader]

I am a girlfriend of a 34 year old guy who has the same issues, except I've almost noticed it's a pattern. He doesn't ALWAYS poses the symptoms and the sex is great (morning, afternoon, night etc) but then every 3-4 months it hits again....???? Anyone similar to that?? This has happened maybe 3 or 4 times a year and last maybe 2 weeks give or take a few days...(and means he loses his erections mid romp, doesn't get morning wood, and just lacks libido all around during the episodes) but when the episode is done and we're back "in action" lol then it's great and he can do it anytime any where multiple times a day when things are going good....then a few months later, we're back to the sexual "down time" as I have labeled it...He attempted to talk to his doctor and was told it's all in his head....but that can't be IT? What should he be asking for? What should he be checking?

[wantchange]

listen to y'al.in ed if u run all the necessary tests from blood sugar, testosterone to STIs and its normal then the cause is not organic and will stil be having morning hoods.however if u are having morning hoods but can't maintain an erection when u meet ur partner then its purely psychogenic.this could be as a result of stress,fear and anxiety.    finally let me comment on one key cause of ed.PORN INDUCED MASTURBATION.guys if u try evrything and it doesnt workout quit this habit and see.                                                              

[Limpone]

I don't know what the **** is up! I'm 32 and I did recently start drinking eight to ten shots nightly but my **** will not get and stay as hard as long as it used to! Then when it does I can't last long at all! I was addicted to prescription pain pills for about three years but have not taken any for over four and a half years! I hope this is not some Long- term side effect that is untreatable!   I'm going to try some cardio exercise and cutting back on my alcohol! Let you know how me and my **** are doing later! Lol

[fairgo]

ED is caused by bad diet, lack of exercise and environmental factors. Doctors are useless. go see a Chinese herbalist who is reputable. U dont have to believe anything, just do it, you will be F amazed at the effectiveness of Chinese herbs...not tested oh yeh, trad chinese medicine is only pragmatic...for 3000yrs, if it doesnt work, they dont use it....no scientific tests...well u just havent seen them, and ignorant western doctors are too rigid to even look at them...there are thousands of clinical trials done in china which the west ignores....but the Ch have this one nailed. ..like i said, dont believe anything, but give this a try and then u will know....what have u got to lose???

[lcoll]

I read most of your comments and find them very factful,concerning your testosterone replies. I am a 59 yr old male that started having all the same symtoms you have described since I turned 35. They did not come on all at once but were gradual over the years. My T levels I found out were only 112. Before i found this out though i was having urinary problem. Force of stream was low, trickling here and there. Having to pee 4-6 times a night,fatigue,the same symtoms you all have. My urologist diagnosed me with BHP or BPH. Can not ever remember the order,anyway. He just gave me antibiotics and sent me on my way. Through the years it continued off and on and i was getting frustrated because i was a very active person in the bedroom. So i started seeing another urologist.This one starts testing my PSA levels and finds them slightly elevated [3.] I'm 45 yrs old by now ,so he starts doing Prostate biopsies looking for prostate cancer. 1st was negative,6 months later,another biopsy,it's negative,so he puts me on Flomax to help with my pee problem and schedules another PSA check in 6 months and scheduled,yep,another biopsy. Well before that happens my insurance company drops  him and sends me to another urologist.Oh,before that happened,my 2nd urologist told me "The cancer is there somewhere,we just have to find it" lol . Well my 3rd and final urologist, so far has taken up where my 2nd one stopped. Yep, he checked my PSA and it was [5] so he did another biopsy and they still come up negative. So while he is pondering what to do,he puts me on Avodart,which helps shrink the prostate to better help you pee. So next step is to check PSA again and then he also decides to check my testeosterone since i am still complaining about my sex drive and my hard-ons going soft. Thats when we find my body practically quit producing testosterone. My PSA had dropped back to 3.1 so he started me on testosterone injecttions which i learned to give myself after paying 216.00 per injection in his office. 1ml every 2 weeks. Well after 6 months he checked my PSA and had a hissy fit. It had gone to 6.3 so he cut back my injections which i felt were doing me good of course and yep another biopsy which also came up negative. 3 months later he checked my PSA [10] and Testosterone [870]. he has completly stopped my injections. He is afraid i will end up with prostate cancer, says if i did get cancer i would probably die of natural causes first before the p/cancer would kill me.Now i am on all this medicine and 2 antidepressants because i am depressed about my E.D.. My question is , should i start the injections again and have a sex drive or just take my pills and get on with life with out sex.  P.S.  Have your doctors check your PSA levels. Thanks for listening to me. Sexless in S'port.

[Cburr]

Guys, you've got my attention. Where and how can I get a Test shot?
A paramedic told me that she believe that was my problem to begin with but, I didn't take her seriously because she was a paramedic. Now you're telling me that it could be the issue. For God sakes, I hope that's the only issue with me. Not only has my libido, sensation, erection gone to hell but, also the sensation in my nuts. I wonder if that's all the same? Maybe you guys can answer that. Again I do appreciate the admiral advice. Any more information is a big help. With you guys here, at least I'm not alone in this!

Thanks

[JointHealth]

Yea sure those #'s look normal but let me tell you my experience...  From testing I know I feel normal when my score is 700 and above... the last time I went to the Dr and got tested I hadn't taken a shot of Test in a while cause of being lazy and I've been ill with a disc problem... When I went to the Dr I knew it would be lower then normal, not because I didn't take my shot on time but it was because I wasn't horny one bit and I'm usually horny everyday... When I got the results back my score was a bit over 500... normal right... well most Dr's would say so but in reality it wasn't enough to feel normal... The less Test you have in you the less sensitive your penis will be...  Now let me point out a friend of mine that is an asian man 30yrs old that wanted his level tested cause he's not horny like he used to be.... his score was over 827 ... makes you wonder what his highest level was when he was young doesn't it...  So to you I would say forget the score and at least try a shot of Testosterone to find out... its easy, cheap and fast... At least try this first to find out...  PM me and I'll point you into the right direction

This will atleast rule out Test levels as the problem and if you only go by the Dr's opinon you'll never get the right answer so do it yourself and if it works you can then go back to your DR and let him know how wrong he was and he shouldn't rely on the score and should go by the symptoms...

[repeat]

# Total T   556  ng/dL  (241-827)
# Free T     14.1pg/mL   (6.8-21.5)

I included the "normal" range from the report.  Any opinion?

[Cburr]

It's funny you have said all of the symptoms I'm dealing with but, I've been told my levels are fine. I haven't gotten the actual number but, since you've brought it to my attention I will. Here's the only thing that differs from my symptoms and yours. You know how at the tip of the penis is most sensitive to touch? Well mine is absolutely minimal! I mean I can't feel nothing at the tip. The foreskin is minimal as I can't feel wetness sensation nor stimulation. With the combination of cerebral concentration and motion, that's the only way I am able to reach climax. Please help. Thanks.

[JointHealth]

I believe your Dr was wrong.  Just because your Test level came out in the normal range doesn't mean its normal for you.  If you can post up all your blood work.  Your Dr may not have enough experience with this problem as most think that if your level falls in the normal range then you are normal... but what they should concentrate on is your symptoms not the scale they use...  When I was 35 I noticed a drop in libido , at 37 I went to the DR with my symptoms which were Fatigue, Depression, low libido, erection problems, short term memory problems... all related to Low Testosterone...  My level was 400 and even though that level isn't considered low or even low normal he know that my symptoms determined what I needed... to make it short once I got my Test dose to 150mg a week all symptoms went away.  If you don't know what your level was go to your DR and ask for the results as he will still have them.  Come back and post your results...  if your level is around 400 and less go to a urologist... Also your urine problem may be related as the higher estrogen level along with the low testosterone level that usually protects the prostrate could be effecting the prostrate...  Good prostrate starts by keeping your Testosterone level in the normal range and by normal I mean what is normal for you to function normal and obviously your level isn't normal...

Next read my profile,,, mostly the 2nd 1/2 as it will explain everything in detail...

[Cburr]

Honestly, I don't think that's our problem even though I gave up briefs back in 88". LoL.

Let me know if you come up with anything!

[repeat]

Glad you have access to doctors.  I wasn't sure before.  Good luck and keep me informed.

I'm definitely not giving up.  I keep going over it in my mind again and again.  One more thought is that I switched from briefs to boxers.  Long ago I read that the profile of someone who gets testicular cancer is a thin, white male who wears briefs instead of boxers.  That matched me.  Not sure if that is really true but I gave boxers a try, liked the change and have worn boxers since.  That was *roughly* the same time my problem showed up, I can't be sure.  Anyway, my latest bright idea is to switch back to briefs.  Might be a dumb idea but it's a cheap, low risk experiment.  One more thing I can check off my list.

[Cburr]

Dude, I can't express to you how much I have appreciated your feedback and your outlook of the situation you're dealing with. In some ways you're an inspiration to me but, in some ways your apymphany is something that I would like to stay away from. In terms of starting to accept that fact that I'm disconnected from the world. No disrespect with that, it's just the way I feel. I guess it's denial but, I'm determined to either pray for healing or find a cure through medical recovery. As for the horniness, yes it's hard for me too. I get pissed that it doesn't come easy for me any more because, I absolutely loved getting horny. Dam man, now that I'm thinking about it, it's like a fond memory or something. Just a weird thought now. Dude, I just don't know wtf is going on with us guys. How can something like this just come on?!?!?!?!? For everything there's a cause and for every cause there's a solution as well as an effect. I have somewhat thought that the problem that I'm dealing with is due to the fact of the supplements that I've taken in the past. Most of which was Nitrics Oxide.

After studying the long term affects of it, I have noticed that studies have showed that it has a component that relaxes parts of the penis which makes it difficult for us to substain an erection. To me that's all BS! Excuse me man but, that's just the anger and frustration of dealing with this bs! As for the testosterone stuff, yes, I've been tested,tested and , retested and everything came back, yup, you guess it, "Normal". Many times I have been pissed to get that feedback. The more upsetting thing is that the doctor doesn't pursue as to a reason why you're not able to feel the same way you should. So, he refered me to a Neurologist whom to which I called to make an appointment and the receptionist told me that he wouldn't be available until Oct!! I was like wtf?

So yes, what I will do is look for another Neurologist. I heard of some Boston Medical Institute that claims they have the cure for ED. I haven't given them a call yet but, I plan to, just to get an idea of just what they do and if they accept insurance. I hope to God they do. Wanna know something scary? Well, going back to what you said earlier about this being a blessing and all, well to be honest, I prayed for something like this to happen to me. Mainly because I'm married and I wanted to stay dedicated and loyal to my wife. I knew that as long as I had a huge sex drive, it wasn't going to happen. So, I asked God to remove it and what the hell man, he did! Now I'm like, O'God please heal me and bring back my old self. Dude seriously, God answers prayer. Maybe for the good, bad or indifferent but, he does answer. That's why I said I was going to pray my way through this.

Let's keep this conversation up with any treatment or doctors you see. I sure would be nice to have a friend in this.

[repeat]

For what it's worth, I also noticed a decrease in my urine flow.  I have also wondered if this is connected to my ED.  

[repeat]

Re: I also have lack of sensation with all of my formerly high sensitive parts to include ears

Lack of sensation as in numbness or just not sensitive in a sexual way?  If numb you might be lucky.  Lucky in that this sounds serious and you can probably get noticed if you see a doctor.

I know what you mean about feeling like my life is over.  In one sense it's a blessing for me.  Or at least it was while I didn't have a girlfriend.  It was a sort of vacation  from sex drive that let me focus on other parts of life.  I pursued my problem even then but only to be sure that it wasn't the symptom of something more serious.  The docs don't see a problem but they really don't seem interested in investigating either.  I was the one who demanded a testosterone test.  My results are "normal".  But I put that in quotes because it's hard to know what's normal for me without having prior levels.

Have you checked your testosterone?  It's very expensive if done with a blood sample.  There's a more affordable test you can do via mail order and saliva.  About $35, I think.  I tried both and they seem to match so I can recommend the saliva test as a starting point.  The key is that there is testosterone and "active" testosterone.  Make sure you read up about this on the internet so the results make sense.

I keep going over what changed in my life at the time the problem started.  One thing is that my exercise practice changed, I think.  It was along time ago and I'm not sure of the order of things.  Anyway, it definitely helps if I return to long aerobic workouts, a full one hour session per day.  I don't suggest this if you're not already used to it but consider exercise that's right for your current physical condition.  At least it won't be a waste of time even if it doesn't help with erections.

The thing is that I still have the normal fluctuations in sex drive as before.  Exercise helps the most.  Stress hurts.  So there's a curve with peaks and valleys.  I get a boost at night when I rest.  Same as before.  It's just that the whole curve has been downshifted to where the peaks are barely noticeable.  It's frustrating because occasionally I'm reminded what sex drive was like before.  It's then I miss it but I can't force it to return.

Still, I'm lucky.  I'm not in pain so I could be worse off.  Something is just missing.  It's not that I'm depressed.  It's more like a feeling of being disconnected from the world, bored.  In some ways I'm already dead.  I assume that's what you mean by "feeling like life is over".

I had an amazing experience the other day.  I heard the story of a guy who, for some medical reason, lost all of his testosterone.  The guy describes what it feels like.  I was listening, nodding as he talked about the stuff anyone might expect.  Then he talked about a really weird change in perspective, the ability to see beauty in everything.  I was shocked.  That's what I've been telling people for years!  I never connected it with my ED problem though.

Everything is beautiful.  I can see beauty in the face of every person as they drive by me at stop lights.  But it's a sort of curse.  Because once you can see beauty in all things then it all starts to taste like chicken.  I mean, it's all the same which can be boring.  Here's a link to the show if you're interested.
http://thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=220

I've experimented with Viagra a few times, maybe a dozen over a year or more.  What I noticed is that before Viagra I have trouble getting an erection or even being able to fantasize about sex very well.  But after the Viagra kicks in I don't just get the erection but I also get the ability to feel horny again.  That surprised me because I thought that Viagra only helps with the mechanics by adjusting blood flow.  But somehow the increased blood flow also allows me to feel horny again.  Weird.

All that might sound like I recommend Viagra but I don't like it.  It helps but it still doesn't make me completely normal again.  In some ways it's just another episode that gives me a glimpse of what I'm missing.  And there's a catch-22, I'm not motivated to take the Viagra in the first place.

[Cburr]

***@****

[Cburr]

Guys, let's form a bond right here, right now! Since we're going through the same bs, let's share our experience (medical test/doctor visit) and let's try and find a solution to this dam curse we have stumbled upon. I have not support or anyone that can relate to what I am going through other than you guys. I really would appreciate any advice or solutions that you guys can provide me. Believe me this is scary for me and sometimes I feel as though my life is over but, I refuse to give up because I love women toooooooo much. JIMBO I share all of your sypmtoms, but I also have lack of sensation with all of my formerly high sensitive parts to include ears, hands, skin, anus, and other places. So please help me fellas! I need it!

[DerekH]

I'd say that any problems involving your penis is worth seeing every professional possible to get it fixed, but the temporary fixes of viagra and cialis are good too.

[repeat]

Wow, sounds like me except my problem started at 46.  I went to a urologist but he didn't listen, just suggested Viagra.  Frustrating!