All right men: We all know it has happened to you before.
You’re hanging with your smokin’ hot date, one-night stand or long-term significant other. After a nice dinner, a drunken night of clubbing or a cheesy chick flick, things start to get steamy. The music comes on, the clothes come off and everything seems to be heading in the desired direction.
But then there’s a problem: Your penis stops working.
This, of course, is the dreaded “male impotence syndrome.” Generations of men have succumbed to the temptation of sexual encounters, and many of those encounters have unfortunately fallen victim to this incredibly agitating problem. The immense disappointment in pleasure has dumbfounded males for quite some time.
But what really goes on down there?
Askmen.com defines impotence as “the inability of a man to either have an erection or to keep the penis erect long enough to have sexual intercourse.” All men have their own hypothesis as to why impotence occurs.
Portland resident Kyler Martin explains that his diet plays a huge role in his sex life: “If I don’t eat that day, I’m not getting a boner.”
One PSU student, who wished to remain anonymous, described his first experience with male impotence as highly embarrassing: “It was supposed to be my first time having sex, but I was too nervous to get it up.”
Other answers on why men have had trouble with their penis included vaginal smells, the mandatory refractory period, the mood they happened to be in, a lack of physical attraction for their partner, intoxication to the point of incompetence and an overdose of masturbation.
The truth is that all of these answers, in their own ways, are perfectly legitimate and rather common reasons of why penis performance often plummets. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “an erection involves your brain, nerves, hormones and blood vessels. Anything that interferes with these normal functions can lead to problems getting an erection.”
The website lists the usual causes of erection problems, some of which include nicotine and alcohol use, feelings of doubt and failure, stress, anxiety, medication and unrealistic sexual expectations.
If men are able to pinpoint the most probable reason(s) why they’re not able to keep their penis stiff, they can then work on improving those situations for the next go-round. Whether it’s getting more rest, cutting back on drug use or getting a boost in confidence, there is most likely a solution to your specific problem. But if you simply have trouble figuring out the causes, consult a doctor.
For older men, your penis has probably had its fair share of fun already. The fact that sometimes your penis will not become erect is due to a decrease in your hormones. Not to worry; women understand. If you haven’t already, invest in Viagra.
The chance of your penis failing you at least once in your lifetime is great. Most men cannot escape it, and if you say it has never happened to you, you are probably lying. It’s okay. Next time this happens, take two seconds before you panic to think about why your penis refuses to rise to the occasion, and take this inevitable fate like a champ.