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  • Writer's pictureMargaret Aghaeepour, PsyD

Difficulty Keeping it Hard? Here's How Sex Therapy Can Help with Erectile Dysfunction

Updated: Jun 12, 2023


Difficulty maintaining an erection, also known as erectile dysfunction, is a common sexual difficulty that affects many men. It can cause significant distress, anxiety, and relationship problems. Fortunately, sex therapy can be an effective treatment option for difficulty maintaining an erection. In this blog, we'll explore what difficulty maintaining an erection is, its causes, and how sex therapy can help.


What is Difficulty Maintaining an Erection? Difficulty maintaining an erection is a condition in which a man is unable to sustain an erection during sexual activity. It can occur at any age and can be caused by physical or psychological factors.


What Causes Difficulty Maintaining an Erection? The causes of difficulty maintaining an erection can vary, but it's often due to psychological factors such as anxiety, stress, or relationship issues. Physical factors such as hormonal imbalances, high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease can also contribute to difficulty maintaining an erection.

How Can Sex Therapy Help with Difficulty Maintaining an Erection? Sex therapy is a specialized form of therapy that can help individuals and couples overcome sexual difficulties and improve their overall sexual health and well-being. Here's how sex therapy can help with difficulty maintaining an erection:

  1. Understanding the condition: A licensed sex therapist can help individuals with difficulty maintaining an erection better understand the condition and its causes. This can help individuals overcome feelings of shame or embarrassment and gain control over their symptoms.

  2. Addressing underlying psychological factors: Sex therapy can help individuals identify and address any underlying psychological factors that may be contributing to difficulty maintaining an erection, such as anxiety or stress.

  3. Practical exercises and techniques: Sex therapy can provide practical exercises and techniques to help individuals overcome the physical symptoms of difficulty maintaining an erection. These may include pelvic floor exercises, relaxation techniques, and the stop-start technique, which involves stopping stimulation before orgasm and starting again after a brief break.

  4. Education: Sex therapy can educate individuals and couples about sexual anatomy, arousal, and response, which can help them better understand their bodies and improve sexual functioning.

  5. Partner involvement: Sex therapy can involve the partner of an individual with difficulty maintaining an erection, helping them understand the condition and providing support and guidance on how to help their partner overcome the condition.

  6. Building intimacy: Sex therapy can help individuals and couples build intimacy, which can help improve overall sexual satisfaction and strengthen the relationship.

In conclusion, difficulty maintaining an erection is a common condition that can cause significant distress, but sex therapy can provide an effective treatment option. By understanding the condition, addressing underlying psychological factors, providing practical exercises and techniques, educating individuals and couples, involving partners, and building intimacy, sex therapy can help individuals with difficulty maintaining an erection overcome their symptoms and improve their overall sexual health and well-being. If you are experiencing symptoms of difficulty maintaining an erection, don't hesitate to reach out to a licensed sex therapist to learn more about how they can help you.


Interested in learning more about sex therapy in Menlo Park, California? Book your complimentary consultation today to learn how sex therapy can help you reach your goals.



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