Erections, just like many things in life, come and go but sometimes you really need them to stay a little longer. Making sure that when you get hard, you stay hard can be a little tricky.
When you get an erection how can you make sure it doesn’t leave when you need it the most? We’ve gathered these tips to help you learn how to better maintain an erection.
What causes erections?
An erection is the process in which the penis fills with blood, usually in response to sexual stimulation or excitement. The blood flow in the penis causes it to become stiff, hard, and it often pulls away from the body. There are two main types of erections–reflexogenic and psychogenic. A reflexogenic erection occurs when the penis is touched, teased, or played with causing an erection. A psychogenic erection happens when thinking of a sexual situation or memory without touching the penis.
How long should an erection last?
The average erection duration has a wide range, from a few minutes to half an hour. There is a huge range within what is considered average. This means that if your worry is “am I normal?”, then the answer is probably yes. However, if you’re here because you want to increase the duration of your erection, keep reading to learn about some possible techniques.
A potential health concern is if the erection lasts too long. An erection lasting longer than 4 hours is known as priapism, a condition that can cause permanent damage to the tissue that helps the penis become erect. If your erection lasts longer than 4 hours, even with no pain, seek medical help right away.
Why is it difficult to maintain an erection?
There are many factors that could make it difficult to stay hard, including mental health, physical health, and relationship stress.
Physical health affects sexual health as well. Conditions such as cardiovascular disease, heart disease, hypertension and obesity can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction symptoms.
If you have been struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression, sex might be the last thing on your mind. When sex is something added to the long list of things to worry about, it can be hard to find pleasure in the act itself and this leads to sex being prioritized last.
A lack of excitement or emotional connection with your partner can add to the difficulty to maintain an erection or erectile dysfunction. Physical stimulation can help get the erection rising, but if the act of sex is not pleasurable, then it can be difficult to stay hard for very long.
Keep the blood pumping
It is well known that keeping active and looking at your weight improves many aspects of your health, but did you know that it may positively affect the duration of your erection? People who fall into the overweight or obese categories may find that it gets easier to maintain an erection once they lose the extra weight.
Weight loss strategies include diet modification and increased exercise. Several studies have found that 40 minutes of cardio four times per week can help to decrease erectile dysfunction in men.
In general, having a healthy lifestyle has been found to prevent or reduce sexual dysfunction. This includes eating a balanced diet, getting your physical activity in, and no smoking.
Express what’s on your mind
If you have been feeling stressed over the need to perform, it can help to communicate with your partner or partners about the difficulty to maintain an erection.
- What is your relationship with sex?
- Do you worry about the possibility of losing an erection?
- Do you worry that your partner is feeling dissatisfied?
- How can you and your partner feel intimate whether or not there is an erection?
Be open about how you’re feeling and how they’re feeling. Expressing these emotions and concerns can bring you reassurance and peace of mind that lets you keep going a little longer.
Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or breathing exercises, may also help to manage during a moment of worry or stress.
Ordinary to extraordinary
Extraordinary sex comes from both experimentation and communication. Sex can be awkward to talk about. Sexual exploration can be an especially tough conversation to have by yourself, let alone with a partner.
Ask yourself if you’ve been wanting to try anything new lately. Maybe there’s a position you’ve always wanted to try, or a toy that you think could spice up your foreplay sessions. Then ask your partner about their secret desires. By asking this one question, you may find you have a lot more in common than you knew!
If you’re feeling like it can be difficult or awkward to try something that might be a little risky, try out role-play. Playing as a character and pretending to be in a scene can help you explore your interests in a fun way. A costume can really enhance the situation, making a clear distinction that this is a sexual role-play act, letting you explore freely as this character.
Sexual routines can feel safe, but trying something new can be an exciting moment for both partners. That mutual excitement can lead to increased arousal, both physically and mentally. Curiosity is your best friend, listen to it and watch as it becomes easier than ever to maintain an erection when you let go of all your worries.
To learn how to explore in a healthy, happy, consensual way check out our More Fun Sex Challenge, as series of 3 challenges to spice things up with your partner.
Consider erectile dysfunction medication
Difficulty maintaining an erection during sex may indicate erectile dysfunction. Cake ED Meds are a fast-acting compound formula containing both Sildenafil and Tadalafil. You can consult with a physician 100% online about erectile dysfunction symptoms and they will determine if prescription treatment is right for you.
To find out if Cake ED Meds are right for you, click here to get started.
Try penis rings to increase blood flow
Toys that restrict blood flow, such as Silicone Rings, may help increase blood flow to the penis. Increased blood flow helps to maintain an erection during sex. These rings come in 3 different sizes that can offer different levels in blood flow restriction or can be used together to enhance your sexual experience to the next level. In general, trying new toys could spice things up between you and your partner!
How to maintain an erection
There are many possible ways to maintain an erection for a longer period of time, but you have the choice to find what works best for you and your body. Some options to try include more exercise and a healthy lifestyle, communication with your partner, erectile dysfunction medication, or sex toys that restrict blood flow to the penis. The most important part is to remember that sex should be fun for you and your partner!
