E.D. Advice for a Younger, In-shape Guy

[nomad1985 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nomad1985]

About me: I'm 25. I'm in pretty good, but not incredible shape (work out 3-4x a week, around 11% body fat). I don't smoke and drink in moderation (generally around a drink or two a week, with maybe 10-12 on a heavy, vacation-like week). I avoid processed foods for the most part.

I have days or weeks at a time when ED strikes. It varies in severity, ranging from only getting hard when I'm on the verge of coming (followed by a weak orgasm) to getting very, very weak erections that would not facilitate penetration. Originally I thought it was just nerves since this kind of thing only came up when I became sexually active, but more recently I'm starting to think it there might be a physical component to it as well. When I'm in one of my "phases," I also don't wake up with morning wood, and it afflicts me during masturbation/porn when "nerves" aren't an issue. There will also be weeks at a time when I am a raging bull with excellent erection quality with the ability to stay hard for hours. I had that two weeks ago, and now I'm unable to get hard without any significant swings in mood or general circumstances.

Various other notes:
- I have some history of urinary incontinence. I used to wet the bed until I was around 11. A few times a year I come very close to pissing my pants when I am suddenly and unexpected struck with the urge to pee (not the usual slow build, but kind of pounces on me out of nowhere).

- I mentioned it to a doctor about a year ago at a check-up. She had me run a couple urine tests. The first one she mentioned my mucous levels seemed a bit elevated, possibly a sign of mild prostasis, and she had me do a second urine analysis. That one came back normal and she said she wouldn't be too concerned. I have not seen a urologist for unrelated reasons (I am thinking of becoming a military officer and would rather that stuff not be on my more recent medical records).

- There is a history of diabetes on the dad's side of the family (grandmother, one of my aunts), but tests in the past (most recent one was probably a year or so ago) came back normal.

- I do kegels on-and-off and it seems sometimes like it gets worse when I do them, but I'm not 100% sure about it. They should help EQ, not the opposite right?

- I've had something like an on-off porn addiction for a while. I've gone cold turkey the past week or so and would really like to ween myself off it entirely.

- I don't think testosterone levels or anything like that are an issue, because I have no problems working out, gaining muscle, etc.

- I do have some mental fear of ED, but only when it's actually happening and think it's more an effect than a cause of the ED. I'm quite confident as a lover when I'm in "raging bull" mode, but markedly less so when erection quality is down or nonexistent. I do think nerves are an issue the first time I sleep with a girl, but not subsequently.

- Very much against pharma drug intervention, would rather sort out root cause than deal with symptoms.

This problem is one of the reasons I'm reluctant to try PE exercises, because I am petrified of making the problems worse. I've been looking at various possibilities (prostate trigger points, venous leak, pelvis floor dysfunction, who knows what else), but it's hard to attack an issue when you don't what the root cause is. Hoping someone has had similar experiences and any advice to offer me. Any thoughts or insight?

[JOE-91 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JOE-91]

You don't take propecia (finasteride) do you?

[nomad1985 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nomad1985]

You don't take propecia (finasteride) do you?

No. I didn't even know what that was until I googled it just now.

[palladin Member Find all posts View Profile Close palladin]

If you are able to have raging erections that last for hours, then that pretty much rules out any physical problem down there: your unit is in good working condition, but you seem to run out of steam periodically.

Is your sex drive satisfactory? A low sex drive will tend to produce ED.

Lifting weights tends to depress testosterone levels in the short term - that's one of the mechanisms of overtraining. Bodybuilders who take time off report an increase in sex drive. Perhaps you should try that?

Are you suffering from depression/anxiety? I have seen 4 erection specialists for my own ED, and they all said that if you are under 40, any ED is almost always psychological - that's the statistics.

I can tell you right away what a urologist would do with you: physical examination, standard blood test (including thyroid) + free/bioavailable testosterone + PSA + prolactin. He would also put you on Cialis, and would suggest you take a minidose daily until you regain confidence in your erections. If you are a perfectionist like me, I woud include other things like LSH, DHEA, DHT, estradiol, SBP, cortisol - i.e. all the other hormones that can impact erections.

[code_junkie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close code_junkie]

Nomad, I've seen a lot of people experience "cycles" in which they are more/less horny. From the cases I've observed, this is at least partly due to stress levels and diet.

Eliminate as much stress from your life as possible and make sure you're eating right. Hope that helps.

[nomad1985 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nomad1985]

If you are able to have raging erections that last for hours, then that pretty much rules out any physical problem down there: your unit is in good working condition, but you seem to run out of steam periodically.

Is your sex drive satisfactory? A low sex drive will tend to produce ED.

Lifting weights tends to depress testosterone levels in the short term - that's one of the mechanisms of overtraining. Bodybuilders who take time off report an increase in sex drive. Perhaps you should try that?

Are you suffering from depression/anxiety? I have seen 4 erection specialists for my own ED, and they all said that if you are under 40, any ED is almost always psychological - that's the statistics.

I can tell you right away what a urologist would do with you: physical examination, standard blood test (including thyroid) + free/bioavailable testosterone + PSA + prolactin. He would also put you on Cialis, and would suggest you take a minidose daily until you regain confidence in your erections. If you are a perfectionist like me, I woud include other things like LSH, DHEA, DHT, estradiol, SBP, cortisol - i.e. all the other hormones that can impact erections.

Sex drive is generally high. It does tend to ebb a bit when the ED is around, but again I think it's more effect than cause.

Interesting idea about the weightlifting. I don't think I lift weights quite often enough to be overtraining and am pretty good about taking time off when I need it. But i will keep an eye on that.

I was also able to get a pretty good one last night and woke up this morning with a solid boner. How very frustrating. It's just frustrating because it doesn't seem to correlate to stress or anything... I'm not any less stressed about things than I was two days ago. If anything I should be more stressed. Diet is a distinct possibility, I ate beef for the first time in a few days last night (wheat as well, which I've given up temporary to see if I experience benefits from being gluten-free).

I have had depression in the past and was on Zoloft for about a year. I still get mood swings occasionally but not really to the point where I would consider seeing anyone about it outside of perhaps talking to friends.

Thanks for the insight.

[palladin Member Find all posts View Profile Close palladin]

I have had depression in the past and was on Zoloft for about a year.

That's a prime suspect right there: antidepressants are a known cause of ED - see here. Did the ED begin shortly after the Zoloft? If that's what it is, you can count yourself lucky that you still get proper erections, albeit not on demand. I think that in time it should right itself, as your brain chemistry returns to normal.

[nomad1985 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nomad1985]

That's a prime suspect right there: antidepressants are a known cause of ED - see here. Did the ED begin shortly after the Zoloft? If that's what it is, you can count yourself lucky that you still get proper erections, albeit not on demand. I think that in time it should right itself, as your brain chemistry returns to normal.

Issues preceded Zoloft. Zoloft did make excitation more difficult, but not impossible. I have been off it for something like 4 years.

[steve123 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close steve123]

its not the zoloft.

But your ED does sound psychological. You seem like a hard working guy who may have too much stress in his life. What do you do?

And if you think it's not psych, but related to other things. The info you posted is not enough for a diagnosis. All the reason I think you should see a urologist/primary care doc.

[code_junkie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close code_junkie]

But your ED does sound psychological. You seem like a hard working guy who may have too much stress in his life. What do you do?

I agree with Steve. I, myself, have a very stressful job and I think it's one of the main precursors of my ED. I don't want to quit my job because it's a great position and I get paid very well.

However, what I am going to do is start seeing a therapist for some help in dealing with my stress. I would suggest the same for you if you feel stress is a contributing factor to your problem.