Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCopingSummaryFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
When people think abouterectile dysfunction (ED), they generally think of a persistent condition that tends to get worse with age. But, there are times when ED is only temporary and the ability to achieve anerectioncan be restored.
There are many reasons why temporary ED can occur, some of which may be situational, and others may be due to lifestyle factors that can be changed.
This article explores the different causes and types of temporary ED and what you can do to diagnose and treat this potentially reversible form of erectile dysfunction.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
The symptoms of temporary ED are more or less the same as any other type of erectile dysfunction. Formerly known as impotence, ED is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection that lasts long enough to have sexual intercourse or achieve anorgasm.
An estimated 43% of people with penises will have problems getting an erection at one time or another.From a medical standpoint, the inability to get or keep an erection 20% of the time is not of major concern. It is only when it occurs more than 50% of the time that a person should consider seeing a doctor.
What differentiates temporary ED from chronic forms of ED is that it tends tooccur suddenlyand/or affect groups less likely to have ED, such asyounger people. The symptoms may be erratic or persistent depending on the underlying cause.
Sign, Symptoms, and Complications of ED
There are many different causes of ED, which are broadly classified as either being physiological (relating to the body) orpsychogenic(relating to the mind). Oftentimes, there will be multiple overlapping causes.
As opposed to chronic forms of ED (which mainly affects people over 40),short-term forms of ED have their own distinctive causes and risk factors. These short-term forms can be broken down into two groups:situational EDandtemporary ED.
Situational ED
Situational ED, as per its name, is a type of ED that only occurs in certain situations. The causes are usually psychogenic and can include guilt, depression, fatigue,stress,performance anxiety(fear or worry related to sexual activity), relationship problems, or a history of sexual trauma.
Oftentimes, a person with situational ED will approach a sexual situation with dread, knowing that they won’t be able to “get it up.” In other cases, a sexual interaction may spur unexpected emotions that dampensexual arousal. At other times still, a person may not have any idea why an erection is difficult.
The symptoms of situational ED tend to be erratic and may not happen with different partners or in different circumstances. Being overworked, having a stressful lifestyle, or usingdrugsoralcoholcan cause or contribute to situational ED.
Temporary ED
Temporary ED is a bit more difficult to define but is a form that can potentially be reversed based on changes in modifiablerisk factors.
There are many lifestyle risk factors that can influence ED. Some can impair blood flow to the penis or affect the contraction of muscles or tissues needed to achieve an erection. Others may reducetestosteronelevels or the availability of a molecule called nitric oxide that enables the engorgement of the penis during an erection.
Temporary ED tends to be ongoing rather than sporadic. Causes include:
By making positive lifestyle changes, a person with temporary ED—especially younger people without significant cardiovascular problems—can sometimes reverse ED and achieve normal erections again.
RecapSituational ED is mainly due to psychological issues and can change with different partners or circumstances. Temporary ED tends to be persistent but can improve with positive lifestyle changes.
Recap
Situational ED is mainly due to psychological issues and can change with different partners or circumstances. Temporary ED tends to be persistent but can improve with positive lifestyle changes.
Causes and Risk Factors of ED
The diagnosis of temporary ED is more or less the same as any other form of ED. The diagnosis may involve a doctor known as aurologistwho specializes in male sexual health.
Temporary ED may be suspected if the symptoms are sudden, sporadic, or occurring in people who are at otherwise low risk of ED. The diagnosis will start with a review of your medical and sexual history, including your risk factors for ED.
Based on the initial findings, other tests or procedures may be performed, including:
Treatment options include:
Healthy Activity for ED
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction can be distressing even if it only occurs every now and then. Therefore, it is important to find ways to reduce stress and anxiety to avoid making ED worse. It’s a “Catch-22” situation wherein ED causes stress and stress causes ED.
There are several ways to better cope with situational or temporary ED:
Coping With Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction may only be temporary, and the ability to achieve an erection can be restored. It may occur depending on the situation or be ongoing but reversible. A healthcare professional can diagnose erectile dysfunction, determine the cause, and direct treatment. Drugs, lifestyle modifications, and treating underlying causes may be recommended.
CBD for ED: Can Cannabidiol Help Erectile Dysfunction?
A Word From Verywell
It’s important to remember that erectile dysfunction is common and you shouldn’t stress if you have occasionaldifficulty with erections. If erection problems are frequent or have occurred suddenly for no reason, speak with your doctor. Ignoring the problem rarely helps.
ED can sometimes be a sign of a medical condition in need of treatment, including prostate problems, heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes.By treating the underlying condition, you may find that your ability to get and sustain an erection will also improve.
Being sick can cause temporary ED if it makes you fatigued. Certainurinary tract infectionscan lead toprostatitis(inflammation of the prostate)—a condition that can directly cause ED.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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