What’s going on with the decrease in hardness?

Decreased erection hardness in men may be caused by psychological stress, abnormal vascular function, hormone level imbalance, chronic diseases, drug side effects, etc. It can be improved through lifestyle adjustments, psychological intervention, drug treatment, and management of underlying diseases.

1. Psychological pressure:

Long-term anxiety, depression or partner tension can inhibit the conduction of sexual excitement, leading to insufficient congestion of the corpus cavernosum of the penis. Typical symptoms include decreased sexual desire and morning erections, which can be alleviated through psychological counseling and partner communication. Short-term stress-induced decreases in stiffness usually do not require medical intervention.

2. Abnormal blood vessel function:

Atherosclerosis or venous closure dysfunction can affect the blood supply to the penis and is common in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Accompanying symptoms include chest tightness and lower limb edema after exercise. Microcirculation needs to be improved by controlling blood sugar and lipids, and taking vasoactive drugs such as sildenafil.

3. Hormone level imbalance:

Insufficient testosterone secretion will reduce sensitivity to sexual stimulation and is more common in men over 45 years old. It may be accompanied by loss of body hair and fatigue. Free testosterone levels can be detected, and hormone replacement therapy such as testosterone undecanoate can be used if necessary.

4. Impact of chronic diseases:

Diabetic neuropathy or prostate surgery may damage the erectile nerve. Such organic lesions are often accompanied by urinary abnormalities. Priority needs to be given to controlling the primary disease, and long-acting PDE5 inhibitors such as tadalafil should be used in combination.

5. Drug side effects:

Certain ingredients in antidepressants and antihypertensive drugs can interfere with the physiological process of erection. If long-term medication is necessary, the medication regimen can be adjusted under the guidance of a doctor or combined with selective inhibitors such as avanafil.

It is recommended to maintain aerobic exercise three times a week to enhance blood vessel elasticity, and add zinc-rich foods such as oysters and nuts to the diet. Avoid staying up late and excessive drinking, and appropriately extend the foreplay time before sex. If there is no improvement after adjusting your lifestyle, nocturnal erection monitoring and penile blood flow ultrasound examination are required to rule out organic diseases. Middle-aged and elderly patients should regularly detect prostate-specific antigen and cardiovascular indicators.