If You're Having Trouble with Erections Since some drugs can temporarily interfere with the ability to have erections, you may want to ask your physician about possible side effects of your treatment.
Physical and Emotional Causes If you can get an erection by masturbating or you wake up with an erection in the night or morning, it is most likely that anxiety or "trying too hard" is the cause, and it's not a physical problem. If you are not sure of the cause, ask your doctor to refer you to a urologist or sex therapist for evaluation and treatment.
Taking the Pressure Off The more options you have for sexual expression, the less pressure there is on having erections. This in turn makes it more likely that they will happen. Many couples report that they have learned to have very pleasurable sexual experiences without erections or intercourse. Many kinds of sexual expression and stimulation do not require an erect penis. It may be reassuring to know that to have an orgasm many women need or prefer direct stimulation by hand or mouth on or around the clitoris. This is stimulation that even an erect penis in a vagina can't provide.
If you explore other kinds of sexual touching and expression for a while, you may discover that erections will return with time or that the increased variety of sexual options satisfies both you and your partner. Patience, communication and time are critical factors in developing pleasurable sexual experiences.
