OpenHealth Q&A

Get answered by medical professionals

Erectile Issues

3/23/2025, 1:10:17 PMMale25-34

A 20-year-old male reports that he no longer experiences spontaneous erections throughout his daily routine. While he consistently wakes up with morning erections, he hasn't had a typical daytime erection in quite some time. He mentions that he can achieve an erection when receiving positive attention from women, whether it's a physical interaction or even a simple greeting, yet he often finds himself unable to maintain an erection otherwise. This situation has contributed to his ongoing feelings of depression, which he connects to a longstanding struggle with porn and masturbation addiction. Is it common to experience a lack of spontaneous erections? (Although touch or stimulation from a device can elicit an erection, he finds it challenging to become aroused independently.)

Erectile DysfunctionInfertilityMen's Health

Answers (1)

Cony

3/23/2025, 1:10:34 PM

OpenHealth AI

Experiencing a lack of spontaneous erections, especially at a young age, can be concerning and may be linked to several factors such as psychological influences, lifestyle habits, or underlying health issues. You mentioned difficulties with maintaining erections outside of certain stimuli, which can indeed affect mental health and self-esteem, particularly if paired with feelings of depression.

Understanding Your Concerns

  1. Spontaneous Erections: It's not uncommon for young men to notice a change in the frequency of spontaneous erections. Factors such as stress, anxiety, and lifestyle habits, particularly related to pornography and masturbation, can influence this.
  2. Psychological Components: Your ability to achieve an erection in response to specific stimuli but not independently suggests there may be psychological components at play. Anxiety related to performance and past experiences with pornography can sometimes lead to difficulties in erection and arousal.
  3. Mental Health: Feelings of depression can significantly impact sexual function and libido, creating a cycle where stress and mood exacerbate erectile issues.

Next Steps

  1. Reflect on Sexual Health Patterns: Keep a journal to track your moods, erections, and triggers for arousal. This can help you identify patterns or changes over time.
  2. Limit Pornography Use: Consider reducing or moderating consumption of pornography and masturbation to see if there is improvement in your ability to feel arousal from real-life situations. This may help recalibrate your sexual responses over time.
  3. Focus on Mental Well-being: Engage in activities that promote your mental health, such as exercise, healthy social interactions, and mindfulness practices. Connecting with friends or engaging in hobbies can enhance your overall mood and self-esteem.
  4. Communicate Openly: If you feel comfortable, try discussing your situation with a partner or friends. Open conversations can relieve pressure and potentially improve your confidence.
  5. Seek Professional Guidance: While the above steps can be helpful, consider consulting a mental health professional. They can guide you through managing both the depression and any underlying anxiety regarding erectile function.

Recognize that changes in erectile function can happen for many reasons; addressing both physical and emotional factors is crucial for improvement. You're not alone in this, and with time and support, many find their sexual health improves. If you have more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask.

Related Questions

Is It Safe to Enjoy Alcohol After Taking DayQuil?

This morning, I had a dose of the Walgreens generic version of DayQuil, approximately between 10 and 11 AM. Considering I might want to have a few drinks later this evening, around 10 or 11 PM, I’m curious if that would be a safe choice. Perhaps I’m thinking of having about three drinks. If there are any concerns regarding this, I will reconsider my plans. As a healthy 22-year-old woman who has recently recovered from an illness, I took my final dosage of DayQuil this morning for precautionary reasons. Your input would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Urinary ProblemsUrologyMen's Health
Male25-34
15 hours ago

Experiencing Excessively Warm Palms?

I've had this issue since childhood. At random times throughout the day, I notice that my palms become very warm. They don’t feel like they’re burning, but they get uncomfortably humid, pink, and almost too hot, as if I’m overheating. Immersing them in cold water provides temporary relief, but the warm sensation tends to return after a day or two. At night, a similar problem affects my legs; even mild warmth prompts excessive sweating while I sleep. I find that forgoing a blanket helps alleviate the discomfort a bit, but, like with my hands, I’m on the lookout for a more effective remedy, especially since this has been increasingly troublesome. Just to give you some context, I’m a 28-year-old male in decent health. Could there be an underlying reason for these symptoms?

Urinary ProblemsAndrologyMen's Health
Male25-34
15 hours ago

Is My Recurring Hand Eczema Linked to My Cockatiels?

Greetings! I have a query that I hope someone could help with. I’m a 25-year-old man, and I’ve been dealing with persistent hand eczema for quite some time. The affected region consistently appears on the back of my hand, particularly around my knuckles and extending toward my thumb. The rash manifests itself as small spots that range from red to a more salmon hue. Interestingly, I own some cockatiels, and during a period when I was away from them, my condition seemed to improve. However, since returning and observing them flapping around, which disturbs the sand in their cage, the eczema has reemerged. Could there be a connection between my birds and this localized skin issue? Or given that the same areas are consistently impacted, might this indicate a different underlying cause?

Hair LossUrinary ProblemsMen's Health
Male25-34
17 hours ago

Discomfort in the Throat: Seeking Insight

Hello, I'm a 21-year-old assigned female at birth. I feel a bit foolish for being concerned about this; I often find myself overanalyzing my feelings and battling my anxiety. For the last several days—though my memory isn't the best, I believe it's been approximately four days to a week—I’ve been experiencing a peculiar sensation in my throat. It’s not painful, and there aren't any noticeable changes when I feel it or check in the mirror; my partner hasn't observed any differences either. The sensation feels somewhat like a mix of numbness and tingling. Interestingly, the discomfort diminishes when I lie down or support my head with a cushion or plush toy, and it also eases when I gently press on my throat. Is this something typical that people experience, or do you think it's worth consulting a doctor? I would feel a bit embarrassed to schedule an appointment for something I perceive as trivial, if that makes sense. • Medications: paroxetine (30mg daily) and alprazolam (between 0.25mg and 1mg daily) • Diagnoses: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), social anxiety Thank you for your understanding. Wishing you a wonderful day!

Urinary ProblemsUrologyMen's Health
Male25-34
22 hours ago

Is Frequent Ejaculation Harmful?

Age: 20 Height: 6'1" Weight: 180 lbs Fitness Level: Physically active and muscular Medications: None Recently, I had an encounter with a woman in her early 40s, whom I met online. During her work trip, we got together at her hotel from one afternoon until the following morning, and we ended up having intercourse a total of ten times. Each time, we used protection. The next day, after returning to my dorm, I felt fine initially—showered and attended my classes without any issues. However, by evening, I began to experience some discomfort in my testicles. The following morning, this discomfort escalated, radiating to the base of my shaft. Importantly, there are no signs of bruising, swelling, or any visible injuries. I noticed that during the last few orgasms, I ejected very little semen, which is unusual for me. This leads me to wonder: Is it possible that I could have inflicted some type of internal damage on my testicles? Given that we were engaged in doggy style for a majority of our sessions, could the repeated movements have caused any internal harm over that extended period? Today, while the soreness has dulled slightly, there’s still pain when I touch my testicles or when I sit. Should I consider consulting a healthcare professional about this situation?

Testicular PainUrologyMen's Health
Male25-34
23 hours ago