The rise of the under 40s flop:  Erection issues are no longer just an age-related issue

One in five penis owners between the ages of 18-40 report difficulty in gaining and maintaining an erection. This is 5 times higher than the same age group just under 20 years ago. So why are younger people these days struggling to get it up (and keep it there)?

Problems with gaining and maintaining an erection have long been considered an older person’s problem, with historical numbers showing those over the age of 40 with much higher instances of erection difficulties). Since the late 2000s however, the reporting rate of difficulty gaining and/or maintaining erections amongst those under 40 has rapidly taken over their post 40 counterparts. In fact, the highest instances of reported erectile dysfunction now come from our 16-21 year old group, with 50% of young people in this age group complaining of difficulty in gaining or maintaining an erection.

Whilst some of the younger statistics are reasonable given the lack of sex education which leaves people with limited understanding of how and what influences erection, those aged 18 to 40 are reporting ongoing concerns at a rate of 1 in 5. This is vastly different to figures in the late 1990s, where only 1 in 20 under the age of 40 reported difficulties with either gaining or maintaining an erection.

But why?

There are so many possible causes for erection difficulty, and therefore lots of methods of overcoming it. To put it simply, there have historically been two types of erectile dysfunction; those with hormonal, biological or medical causes; and those that are situational and relate to stress, anxiety (including performance anxiety) and depression. With growing rates of anxiety and depression amongst people in recent years, it’s no surprise that we are seeing an increase in erection difficulties within the younger demographic. In practice, many of those who present with erection difficulties have situational and/or relational factors that are influencing their erection. Check out our research on specific causes and treatment options for erection difficulties here.

It is possible that with our limited sex-ed and people turning to pornography to learn about sex, that we are placing unrealistic expectations and undue pressure on how hard and how long a sex-sesh ‘should’ be. You may be interested to know that the average penetrative sexual experience lasts for 4-minutes, (not 20+ like porn may have you believe), and if sexual intimacy is going on for a prolonged time, it is possible that regardless of how aroused you are, that an erection may come and go due to the bodies natural circulatory system redirecting to other areas of the body.

The good news is that most erection difficulties are very treatable when you understand what is causing it, and usually a holistic approach that includes physical/ hormonal assessment, sex and/or relationship therapy, mindfulness strategies and home-based practices is the most effective way to support overcoming any erection concerns.

If you are having trouble gaining or maintaining an erection, and it is causing you concern, it is very likely that a professional can determine the likely cause following an initial appointment. Following this and depending on the specific factors involved, a treatment plan is often straightforward with successful results, sooner rather than later.

If you would like to discuss your erection concerns with a professional, click here to schedule an appointment with one of our practitioners.