How long do normal erections last? The answer is not as simple as it seems.
Erections can last anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour or longer, but the timeframe can change dramatically depending on numerous factors.
Anything from a lack of arousal to sexual anxiety can shorten erection time. In this guide, we’ll help you understand how long an erection lasts and all of the various factors that can affect its duration.
Quick FAQs
An erection is the hardening and elongation of the penis due to an increase of blood flow.
In response to mental or physical stimulation, or by chance, blood vessels relax within the penis walls, allowing for an increase of blood flow. A high-pressure environment is created to help blood stay in the penis and maintain an erection.
Common factors that affect erection time include age, health problems, mental health, side effects of medications, and arousal.
Plus, we'll go over proven methods that can help to reduce instances of erectile dysfunction to ensure that you last as long as you'd like.
So how do erections work? An erection is the elongation and hardening of the penis due to an increase in blood flow.
While erections are often caused by sexual stimulation, they can also occur without a given reason, even while a male is asleep.
How Does a Penis Get Hard?
Whether from mental arousal, physical stimulation, or purely by chance, an erection occurs when blood flow increases in the penis due to a complex series of events.
At first, blood vessels around the corpora cavernosa begin to relax within the penis walls, which allows an increase of blood to enter the region. After this sudden increase, valves begin to create a high-pressure environment to help blood stay within the penis to form an erection.
What Affects Erection Time?
There’s no concrete rule on how long an erection should last, although the average duration is often believed to be around 10 minutes.
An erection may last longer or shorter depending on the man's arousal. In many cases, an erection will cease after orgasm or ejaculation during the refractory period.
When a man cannot achieve an erection, despite sufficient sexual stimulation, he may have erectile dysfunction.
Now, let's look at some common factors that can affect erection time for most men, including:
Age
Health Problems
Side Effects of Medications
Arousal
Mental Health
Age
Age is a common factor in erection duration and strength, and in many cases, older age tends to correlate with decreased erectile functioning.
However, there are ways to prevent and combat age-related erectile dysfunction, which we’ll get into later.
Health Problems
There are a number of health problems, both mental and physical, that can affect a man’s quality of erection and its duration. On the physical side, some common health problems include:
Obesity
Diabetes
High or low blood pressure
Heart disease
Circulatory problems
Alcoholism
Poor diet and nutrition
A lack of exercise
Sexuality is also highly psychological, and there are a number of related reasons why a man may have reduced erection time. Some examples include:
Anxiety
Stress
Insomnia
Depression
Side Effects of Medications
Certain medications may affect erection quality and duration, and some common types of medications that can affect erections include those prescribed for:
Blood Pressure
Anxiety and Depression (SSRI’s)
Hormonal Problems
Arousal
Sexual arousal is a physical and mental process that can lead to longer-lasting erections. When highly aroused, a man may be able to maintain an erection for a longer period of time.
Some ways to increase sexual arousal include:
Foreplay
Kissing
Dirty Talk
Roleplaying
Sexual Toys
Focusing on these aspects of sex can help to increase erection time during intercourse and other sexual activities.
Mental Health
Mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to how long the average erection lasts.
Some mental health issues that may lead to weaker erections include:
Depression
Anxiety
Stress
Insomnia
Types of Erections
There are three main types of erections that can occur from a different set of stimuli, including:
Psychogenic erections (from sexual thoughts or memories)
Nocturnal erections (from random occurrences while sleeping)
How to Improve Erections
While it’s always important to consult with a doctor, there are a number of safe and proven ways to help maintain an erection without difficulty.
From changing your diet to lifestyle choices, you can help to maximize your erection duration and quality. Some ways to maintain an erection for longer include:
ED Medications
Foreplay
Avoiding Alcohol and Smoking
Communicating with Your Partner
Getting Regular Exercise
Eating a Healthier Diet
Drinking Caffeine
Let’s look deeper at some of the best things you can do to improve your erection health today:
ED Medications
There are a number of safe and well-proven ED medications on the market. While they do require a prescription, they can be a strong tool in regaining longer lasting erections.
These medications work by encouraging more blood flow into the penis to aid erection strength and duration.
Some of the most popular ED medications include:
Sildenafil (Viagra)
Tadalafil (Cialis)
Avanafil (Stendra)
Vardenafil (Levitra)
The side effects of ED meds can be too much for some men. Fortunately, there are also non-prescription supplements available that utilize well-researched ingredients to help aid in erection strength and longevity.
Supplements like VitaFLUX may increase erection quality while also improving one's libido and overall sexual functioning.
Foreplay
Erections are often based on sexual arousal, and this includes both mental and physical stimulation.
To help enhance your erections, try:
Kissing for longer periods of time
Massaging your partner
Dirty talk, which includes roleplaying or describing what you want to do with your partner
Both alcohol and nicotine can greatly affect erection quality, and it’s worth reducing or quitting both to ensure sexual satisfaction as you age.
Communicating with Your Partner
Talking with your partner about sex and any ED concerns may help to reduce anxiety and overall stress. Be open with your partner so you can work together to create a healthy and arousing bedroom environment.
Eat leafy greens such as spinach or kale - Leafy greens have a high concentration of nitrates, which may increase circulation.
Have a serving of fruit daily - Fruits containing flavonoids have been found to help increase blood flow and improve blood pressure.
Minimize overly processed foods - Eating less processed meats has been associated with less ED risk.
Minimize sugar - Too much sugar on a regular basis can affect insulin resistance, causing low testosterone levels. High blood sugar over a long period of time may also damage nerves and blood vessels.
Drinking Caffeine
Caffeine can lightly dilate blood vessels leading to improved circulation, which is one of the reasons it's often included in anti-migraine medications.
Luckily, this means that your coffee and tea may aid in erectile functioning. For the best results, try to avoid adding sugar to your caffeinated drinks.
Some of the most common health problems for men after the age of 40 can lead to ED, including:
Diabetes
Obesity
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Back pain
In some cases, like with obesity, lifestyle changes can help to significantly reduce symptoms and negative effects.
ED Medications like Viagra and Cialis may also be prescribed to help combat ED at 40.
Improving Erections After 50
After the age of 50, many of the previously mentioned problems can worsen, along with potentially increased risks for:
Heart attacks
Strokes
Cancer
To maintain your sexual and overall health, it's important to regularly visit your doctor as you age to ensure optimal health.
Likewise, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve your health and erectile functioning. ED medications may also be prescribed to help improve any erectile problems.
Takeaways
While the average erection can last anywhere from five minutes to half an hour, erectile dysfunction may be diagnosed if a man cannot maintain an erection for as long as he'd like.
To ensure longer lasting erections, it's important to take care of your overall mental and physical wellbeing by forming healthy habits and consulting with a doctor when necessary. This is especially true as you age.
From losing weight to talking with your partner, you can help minimize the risk of ED while working towards stronger and longer-lasting erections today.
Our team has over a decade of experience in the sexual wellness field and are experts in sexual dysfunctions, like premature ejaculation. We help couples and individuals better understand treatment options available for different types of sexual needs and educate the public on all things related to intimacy. All of our authored content is medically reviewed for accuracy and reliability.
Sources:
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