
Key Points
- Penile erection is common in men – especially those who are sexually healthy. It is a physiological and a vascular phenomenon. Soft (flaccid) is one phase, erect (rigid) is another, and swollen (tumescent) penis is the third phase of erection
- According to few reports from trusted medical sources, the maximum time an erection could last is for nearly an hour
- Various factors like your overall health, your arousal level, stress, fatigue, stamina, etc., impact the duration of your erection
A few changes made to your lifestyle can help your overall sexual health. Regular work-outs can keep you fit and improve blood flow / overall cardiovascular health. These are vital for a successful penile erection. You can opt for a balanced diet with fiber-rich, consume fruits, whole grains, and vegetables.
Food products you need to avoid include are processed foods, foods high in saturated fats, etc. Consuming such foods can create a negative impact on your blood flow, resulting in erection-related issues. You can avoid consuming alcohol. Moreover, quit smoking as it directly damages your blood vessels causing erectile dysfunction.
Chronic stresses can lead to suppressed sexual health. To beat stress, you can have a good night’s sleep – every night. Sleeping well improves hormonal balance and sexual wellbeing. Your caregiver may recommend a few medications to help achieve prolonged erection i.e. for half-an-hour or more. You may be advised to take drugs of PDE5 inhibitors genre namely sildenafil, tadalafil, etc.
What happens during penile erection?
Penile erection is a combination of your thoughts and fantasies, and your physical motivation. Your emotional-connection and intimacy with your partner influence this penile experience.
Erection occurs when more blood is pumped into your blood vessels allowing them to relax. This creates pressure in your penis and make it rigid. Your nerves and hormones also tend to regulate this.
Penile erection – in a nutshell:
- Sexual arousal triggered by release of nitric oxide
- Blood rushes into pelvic floor as nitric oxide relaxes penile muscles
- During sexual intercourse, repetitive stimulation tends to contract muscles; this again makes more blood to flow in and thus increases rigidity
How to maintain erection for 30 minutes?
Average duration of the whole act i.e. achieving penis erection, is anywhere between five minutes and thirty-five minutes. However, this depends on various other factors like your overall health, your arousal level, stress, fatigue, stamina, etc. Trusted medical research show maximum time for an erection to last is ~ 60 minutes..
According to studies done on men, average time an erection lasts during sexual intercourse is as good as approximately just seven minutes before ejaculation. However, no study has concluded the average time an erection lasts.
However, if erection lasts for a longer time – of say, more than 90 minutes – and does not return the normal / flaccid state, you need to seek medical assistance on a top priority basis. Having an erection for more than an hour is a very dangerous medical condition; it must not be ignored or left-untreated. This is called priapism; if untreated, it may impair your kidneys, brain, heart and nerves.
Maintaining an Erect Penis
Sexual arousal starts with penile erection – amid a few other changes in your body. The erection-event shows up when the tissues of your penis are filled with an extra amount of blood. This eventually hardens your penis and makes it turn bigger / stiff.
As your penis enlarges, it moves out from your body – extending as a separate part. At times, your sexual thoughts can help maintain a penile erection. However, it is more common in younger-men than in men who are very old as the feeling slowly fades away.
Moreover, due to a few rapid changes in your hormone testosterone levels, you may also experience random spells of erections. Such an erection may go away on its own or after ejaculation i.e. release of semen. Your penis erection can be random or spontaneous based on your moods, or the circumstances you are in.
Pills or other supplements can enable maintenance of penis erection. However, before consuming any pills or supplements, you need to check with your caregiver or a certified sexologist about your sexual condition. Only your caregiver or sexologist will know if you really require any pill or supplement for improving your penile erection. If so, they will proceed with other tests on your overall health before they prescribe any drug. This way, you prevent any potential harm from affecting your health.
You can consult with your caregiver or a registered sexologist for further treatment. Your sexologist will examine you thoroughly to understand the cause of random erections – if any. You may be advised to take medication(s) or – at times – opt for a minor surgery as a corrective measure.
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