Young Men's HealthThanks for your question. When tissue inside the penis fills with blood it causes an erection. The penis becomes hard and increases in size. Different people describe this feeling differently, … read more
Articles Tagged: erection
I recently started dating a new girl and can’t get hard whenever we want to have sex. I’ve always watched porn on and off and used nicotine throughout other relationships and have never had a problem with sex. Lately I’ve been very stressed.
Thanks for your question. To get an erection, lots of things need to work together: Good blood flow to your penis Good nerve signaling to your penis Normal hormone balance … read more
I’m 15 turning 16, and when I have an erection my foreskin doesn’t go back. Is this a problem or will it go away when I’m older?
Congrats on wanting to make sure you’re healthy. This is a common question. Sometimes your foreskin can go back (or retract) on its own when you have an erection. If … read more
I can’t seem to get an erection, is that normal?
Congrats on wanting to make sure your body is healthy. To get an erection, lots of things need to work together: Good blood flow to your penis Good nerve signaling … read more
I have a hard time maintaining an erection when I try to put on a condom, otherwise there’s no problem. The second I try to put one on, my penis becomes soft. What can I do?
Thanks for your question and congratulations for using condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy! Some guys who have difficulty maintaining an erection with condom use may give up … read more
When I sit down for a long time, (ex. long road trips, sitting for exams, long classes) I get a short erection that goes away after a few minutes. But it’s very distracting every time it happens and kind of embarrassing. Is there a tip to prevent them or reduce the frequency?
Having unexpected erections, especially during puberty, is totally normal. They usually happen when a guy thinks about something sexual but they can happen for any other reason too. Unexpected erections … read more
I am a virgin but I really want to have sex with my girlfriend. I am able to become hard when I watch porn, masturbate or think of my girlfriend in a sexual way, but when she is there in person, it’s like my body won’t work. Please help.
Having trouble getting or keeping an erection is a common concern among guys and is sometimes referred to as “performance anxiety,” which reinforces the notion that sex is like the … read more
I always get an erection when I am naked. It doesn’t matter if I’m alone, or in a locker room. It is very embarrassing, and I don’t know what to do. It’s okay when I am alone, but everyone seems to stare when I am in a locker room.
It’s normal for both straight and gay guys to have erections when they are naked which can be embarrassing when it happens in a locker room. This usually stops when … read more
Is it bad if I don’t usually have an erection and if it’s highly rare for one to occur?
Not getting an erection is only “bad” if you are trying to have one and experience difficulty. Having an erection involves more than just a guy’s penis. The brain, nerves, … read more
Is it normal to have trouble peeing when you have an erection?
Great question—yes, it is very normal. In fact, most men can’t urinate while erect—there is a muscle which typically closes off the tube where urine comes out while the penis … read more