Approximately 31% of men and 43% of women experience difficulties during sex. However, many types of sexual problems can be treated or otherwise improved. Doctors now know more about them than ever before, thanks to ongoing research.
Common Sexual Problems
You can have problems at different points during sex. Men may experience:
- Lack of sexual desire
- Inability to get or keep an erection
- Orgasms that happen too slowly or too quickly
- Inability to have orgasms
Other possible issues are:
- Deformities of your penis. One type is Peyronie’s disease, in which a buildup of collagen or scar tissue causes the penis to bend.
- Retrograde ejaculation, when semen is forced back into your bladder instead of out of your penis. This may happen in men with nerve damage from diabetes, or after bladder or prostate surgery.
Sex and Aging
Some changes in your sexual desire and sexual performance are normal as you get older. You may need more foreplay before sex or more stimulation to get and maintain an erection. It may also take longer to get an erection after an orgasm.
However, drastic changes can be an indication of a larger issue. If this occurs, consult your doctor.
Health Problems
Your overall health and any medical conditions you have also affect your sex life. Conditions that can affect your sexual ability or desire for sex include:
- Heart and vascular (blood vessel) disease
- Diabetes
- Hormone imbalances
- Nervous system disorders like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
Sudden changes in your sex drive or ability to have sex can be a sign you have a medical condition. Tell your doctor if you notice them.
Medications, such as depression and high blood pressure drugs, can also affect sex. If you notice problems after you start a new medicine, ask your doctor how to manage the side effects or if they can switch your prescription.
Smoking, drinking a lot of alcohol, and other unhealthy habits also may hurt your sexual function. On the flip side, regular exercise, weight loss, and stress management could improve your sex life.
Mental and Emotional Issues
Stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental and emotional issues can have a big effect on your sex life. Just worrying about how you’ll perform during sex can keep you from enjoying sexual intimacy. So can guilt about sex, fear of pregnancy, or memories of a traumatic sexual experience.
Concerns with your relationship can lead to sex problems, too. Anger at your partner, boredom with the relationship, and other ongoing issues can all affect you sexually.
Getting Help
You might feel nervous or shy about talking to your doctor about your sexual problems. But opening up about your concerns is the first step to getting help.
Your doctor will ask questions about what’s happening. They may do a physical exam and order other tests (such as a blood test) to figure out whether an underlying health concern is the cause of your sexual difficulties.
Treatment Options
If a medical condition such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, or depression is affecting your sex life, your doctor may need to address it first.
Other treatment options include:
- Counseling to help you manage stress, anxiety, fear, or guilt, or to address depression or other mental health concerns
- Medications for erection problems that you take as a pill, such as Cialis, Levitra, Stendra, or Viagra
- Medicines for erection problems that you get as a shot, like alprostadil
- Testosterone replacement therapy and other hormone treatments for imbalances
- Medical devices, such as vacuum erection devices, that help you get an erection
- Penis implant surgery
- Surgery to correct penis deformities
- Penile traction therapy, in which you wear a device on your penis to correct deformities
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