How Long Can the Average Man Stay Erect?

A successful erection depends on an intricate play of different body systems including the vascular system, that is the blood vessels, as well as the heart, neurological, endocrine, and psychological systems.

On that note, many factors can affect erections including drugs, alcohol, and smoking, as well as common disorders such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure.

What is erection?

A penile erection, or penile tumescence, in the simplest terms is the engorgement of the “spongy” tissues inside the penis with blood leading to enlargement and firmness to achieve coitus. When triggered, the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system (the one responsible for “rest & digest” processes), releases a potent vasodilator (a chemical compound that dilates blood vessels) termed nitric oxide and dilates the arteries feeding corpus cavernosa and spongiosum (the sponge-like tissue inside the penis that can soak up blood), as well as compresses several muscles such as the bulbospongiosus to compress veins and thus prevent the newly filled corpus cavernosa and spongiosum from draining back. Ultimately, an erection is reversed when the parasympathetic signal is terminated.

Factors affecting Erection

Numerous factors can affect erections in men. Normal testosterone levels are important for libido as well as appropriate erections due to their importance for the maintenance of intrapenile nitric oxide levels.

Depression, stress, as well as relationship issues can affect erectile function as much as leading to erectile dysfunction, and many drugs, such as antihypertensives (blood pressure drugs) and antidepressants, can also lead to an array of erectile issues to erectile dysfunction. Although typically considered an aphrodisiac, alcohol is associated with low libido as well as erectile issues-particularly in those that are abusing it.

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Ways to maintain erectile functions

Lifestyle has a significant impact on erectile dysfunction. Thus, making healthy lifestyle changes can help in maintaining erectile function.

Here are several methods to improve erection in men:

• Eat healthy food. Research shows that men eating Mediterranean or similar diets rich in healthy fats, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits have better erectile function.
• Reduce alcohol intake. While moderate alcohol consumption will lift spirits, regular overconsumption can damage the liver, heart, and nerves leading to hormonal disbalance and ED.
• Use CBD products. For example, by reducing stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety, CBD gummies for men provide relaxation and normal blood flow. As a result, men can maintain erectile function and libido and have longer sex.
• Quit smoking. This will help protect your lungs and overall health and improve blood flow in vessels, enhancing erection.
• Reduce stress. Exercising, yoga, and solving the issues in the relationship with your partner can help improve your sex life.

How long should an erection last?

When it comes to erections, it is easier to define what is abnormal than what is normal. Any erection lasting longer than 3–4 hours is abnormal and is termed priapism, which is a medical emergency as it can harm penile tissues.

Erection during sex

Although there’s a paucity of data, an adequate duration of erection for satisfactory coitus is usually stated as 3 to 7 minutes, while for “desirable” sexual intercourse, the duration is estimated to be 7 to 13 minutes.

Erection after ejaculation

The refractory period is the period of sexual quiescence following ejaculation and is extremely common among mammals, as well as resistant to medications; the actual mechanism behind this period is unknown. However, orgasm and ejaculation are separate events, with multiple orgasms in males having been shown to be possible without concurrent ejaculations.

The duration of the refractory period is on average 15–35 minutes, and although historically thought to increase with age, there is no good data to support this hypothesis.

Erection without stimulation

Erections without stimulation, such as those that occur physiologically in men overnight, typically last about 10–15 minutes per event, and there can be up to 6 separate erections per night. Thus, an average erection without stimulation would not be expected to last longer than an erection with stimulation.

Erection before ejecting

Several studies have demonstrated that both women and men thought of an appropriate post-erection ejaculatory latency to be about 14 to 18 minutes. Coitus that is “too long” has been also shown to be problematic for couples and an ejaculatory latency post-achievement of erection of 10 to 30 minutes has been deemed as excessive.

Premature ejaculation vs. brief erection

In the same realm, those with premature ejaculation may be suffering from what some scientists have termed opportunistic ejaculation. That is as the patient is consciously and subconsciously aware of the short period before detumescence, a speedier ejaculation may become essential. As such premature ejaculation may be a milder form of erectile dysfunction.

When should you talk to a doctor?

As with most physiological processes, the average duration of an erection as well as the refractory period, are individualized. However, any erection lasting longer than 3–4 hours is a medical emergency that warrants urgent medical attention.

In the same sense, if you notice any changes in your libido, and/or average duration of erection and refractory periods, it may be a herald of underlying cardiac disease or vascular disease, warranting a talk with your healthcare provider, preferably a urologist (a specialist doctor for urinary function as well as erection troubles)