Question: I am a little confused and am not sure whether I have erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation. What is the difference?
Answer: Erectile dysfunction occurs when a man struggles to achieve an erection sufficient for penetration, or when the penis goes soft during sexual intercourse. Essentially the penis loses the hardness required to complete sexual intercourse, and the man is unable to ejaculate or orgasm. Erectile dysfunction can occur at any stage of life, but more frequently begins to occur after your 40s. It can be an indicator of another medical problem like diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol. Men who suffer from premature ejaculation are able to “complete” sexual intercourse through to ejaculation. The penis becomes hard following stimulation, however the man “comes” before he would like to. This can occur before or after penetration. Essentially a man feels he has no control over when he ejaculates and he also feels as though the time frame between becoming erect and ejaculation is too short. Premature ejaculation can occur at any stage of life and can start at the beginning of your sex life, or be acquired after a number of years.
