A technical difficulty

Nobody enjoys that feeling of an erection that just won’t co-operate, but around one in 10 men will experience it at some time, with the likelihood increasing with age.

It doesn’t necessarily have enough to do with the levels of your desire for this lovely person who has agreed to get naked with you. There are many causes of erectile dysfunction, including psychological causes: anxiety, depression or guilt, for example. But in around 85 to 90% of cases, there is a physical cause for your penis not doing what you’re asking it to.

Some of the possible physical causes may be injury, hardening of the arteries, or diabetes among others. The problem may also be caused by alcohol or drug abuse, or it may be the side effect of a medication you’ve been given for another condition.

If this is a once-off then just turn out the light, hold each other tight and try again in the morning. But if it happens often, it’s time to see the doctor and find out why.

Read more about erectile dysfunction.

(Health24, September 2012)