Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to get or keep an erection that’s firm enough for sex. When you have ED, your erections are too soft for penetrative sex — and it’s a problem that has the power to interfere with your self-confidence and your relationship with your sexual partners.
The good news? It’s treatable. Daniel Moghadam, MD and our team at Modern Aesthetica specialize in men’s sexual health, and we’ve helped countless men understand and overcome their ED.
You probably know that soft erections are a tell-tale sign of ED, but that’s not the only sign. From getting older to dreading sex, it’s time to learn more about the other common symptoms of ED.
Arousal is a complex phenomenon that involves emotional, mental, and physical factors. When you get aroused, your body sends more blood to your genitals. Spongy tissues inside your penis relax and trap the extra blood, creating an erection and enhancing sensation.
Your erection stays firm until just after you orgasm. At that point, the tissues inside your penis contract, sending the extra blood back into your body and softening your erection.
But if you have ED, this process doesn’t work like it should. Your penis may not get enough blood flow to create a firm erection, or it may not be able to trap the blood to stay firm during sex. Sometimes, mental and emotional factors interfere with your ability to get an erection, too.
The result? An erection that’s too soft for penetrative sex, or an erection that disappears before you reach completion.
ED is usually diagnosed in men who consistently struggle with erections that are too soft or too short-lived for sex. Softness is the symptom that’s talked about the most, but it isn’t the only one. Here are a few of the most common signs that aren’t as well-known.
ED can develop at any age, but it gets more common later in life. Your testosterone levels naturally decline as you get older, and since testosterone controls male sexual function, this drop can have a negative impact on your ability to get and keep a firm erection.
About 40% of men over 40 experience some level of ED, and that number climbs to about 70% around age 70. ED is treatable at any age, but unfortunately, many men attribute their symptoms to simply getting older.
When it comes to ED, there’s a lot of talk about getting soft erections — but not about what happens after that. Soft erections make sex difficult or even impossible. And for many men, that means they can’t reach orgasm.
Struggling with soft or short-lived erections can make ejaculation impossible. If you can’t reach climax, sexual encounters can be frustrating and unsatisfying rather than enjoyable.
No matter the cause of your ED, it can negatively impact your sex drive. Low testosterone levels can make you disinterested in having sex. The frustration that comes with soft erections or the inability to orgasm can create stress and anxiety around sexual encounters. Both of these factors can work together, making your sex drive plummet.
If you think you might have ED, don’t ignore the signs. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Moghadam and our team to get a diagnosis and treatment that fits your needs.
We specialize men’s health, and we’re here to find a solution that revitalizes your sex life and your confidence. We do a physical exam, review your symptoms, and check for hormonal imbalance.
Depending on the cause of your ED, we might recommend hormone optimization to treat testosterone deficiency or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for ED. PRP stimulates healthy tissue regeneration in your penis and boosts blood flow to strengthen erections naturally.
ED doesn’t have to destroy your sex life. Call our Santa Monica, California, office at 310-975-3866 or request an appointment online to put the spark back in the bedroom.
