If you have erection problems, you can't get or keep erections stiff enough to have sex that you and your partner find satisfying.

Erection problems can mean you:^[15]

• Can't get an erection at all

• Can't get an erection sometimes

• Can get an erection, but only for a short period and not long enough to have sex that you and your partner find satisfying

• Can get an erection, but it's not hard enough to have sex that you and your partner find satisfying.

Erection problems are not:

• Losing interest in sex (having a low libido), although this can make it more difficult to get an erection

• Ejaculating too soon when you have sex. This is a different problem called premature ejaculation.

There is a list of questions called the International Index of Erectile Function that you and your doctor can use to find out more about your erection problems.^[16] The following questions are taken from the list.

Over the last four weeks:

• How easy did you find it to get an erection?

• When you had an erection, was it usually hard enough to have sexual intercourse?

• When you had sex, how often were you able to have sexual intercourse (where you entered your partner)?

• When you were having sex, did your erection last until you finished?

• Was sex usually enjoyable?

• How often were you able to get an erection during sex?

• How many times have you tried to have sex?

• Have you lost some of your interest in sex?

Glossary

ejaculation

When a man ejaculates, his penis suddenly releases semen, the white or transparent fluid that carries sperm.

For more terms related to Erection problems

Citations