If your erection is too weak that you can hardly successfully engage in penetrative vaginal sex, you may already be suffering from erectile dysfunction. We usually think of erectile dysfunction as a condition wherein you can’t achieve an erection at all.

The truth is, having persistently weak erections is already considered an erectile problem. Clinically speaking, not being able to maintain an erection that’s firm enough for penetrative vaginal sex is already considered erectile dysfunction.

Take a look at these 3 functional problems that may cause you to have weak erections.

Failure to Initiate an Erection

The process of achieving an erection is actually quite complex. Many believe that an erection is an automatic response to a sexual stimulus. However, before your penis gets hard, there are actually a lot of things that need to happen first.

The tissues that are responsible for making your penis erect are found in the corpus cavernosa in your penis. The smooth muscles of your corpus cavernosa and your arterial walls play very important roles in the penile erectile process.

When your penis is flaccid, these smooth muscles stay contracted. This means that because they’re squeezed tight, only a small amount of blood flows through. The volume of blood that goes through your penile arteries is just enough to nourish your penile cells.

When you perceive a sexual stimulus, whether it’s visual, auditory, or tactile, neurotransmitters are released from the nerves in your penis. The release of these neurotransmitters is supposed to result in the relaxation of your penile and arterial smooth muscles.

Your arterioles and arteries are then supposed to dilate so that more blood can flow to your penis. The blood that enters your corpus cavernosum should be trapped inside through the expansion of your sinusoids.

The outflow of blood through your penile veins should be reduced by the compression of your subtunical venules. Your penile tunica albuginea should become fully stretched to further prevent blood from flowing out of your penis.

Your intracavernous pressure should then increase to raise your penis to an erect state. This is called the full erection phase. A further increase in the intracavernous pressure will then lead to the rigid-erection phase. This is the time when your penis becomes really hard and fully erect.

As you can see, the whole process begins with the release of neurotransmitters that signal the start of your erectile response. Failure to initiate an erection happens when there are problems with the transmission and reception of chemical signals by your nervous system.

This type of functional problem is common in men with spinal cord injuries, radical pelvic surgery, hormonal insufficiency, multiple sclerosis, and other nervous system disorders. When your penile nerves are damaged, they won’t be able to release neurotransmitters properly.

This is also one of the reasons why men with diabetes often develop erectile problems. Diabetes causes neuropathy or nerve damage, which interferes with the proper communication between your penile nerves, spinal cord, and brain.

Failure to Fill Your Penis with Blood

This type of functional problem is common in men with poor cardiovascular health or pelvic trauma. Men with high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and hypertension often experience this kind of problem too. When the problem is caused by poor penile blood inflow, the condition is clinically referred to as arteriogenic erectile dysfunction.

When your penile arteries are blocked, such as when you have atherosclerosis, then your arteries won’t be able to dilate wide enough to allow a sufficient volume of blood to flow into your corpus cavernosa.

If your corpus cavernosa is not filled with enough blood, your intracavernous pressure would be weak. Hence, your penis won’t rise up to become erect. And it won’t become fully rigid, as well.

Soft erections occur when you’re unable to completely fill your penis with blood. And if there’s really very little blood flowing into your penile corpus cavernosa, then you may not get an erection at all, not even the soft kind.

Failure to Keep the Blood Trapped in Your Penis

Let’s say that you’re able to achieve erections without any problems, and your penis can get really hard. But your penis becomes flaccid right away even when you haven’t ejaculated yet.

 When you experience this type of functional problem, it means that your body is unable to keep the blood trapped inside your corpus cavernosa long enough for you to engage in successful sexual intercourse.

This problem happens when you have a venous leakage. It means that the blood that is supposed to be trapped inside your corpus cavernosum is leaking out of your penile veins and going back into your body.

There are several conditions that can lead to a venous leak. These include diabetes, Peyronie’s disease, and vascular diseases. Men who have hypertension, pelvic trauma, and high cholesterol levels may also experience this type of erectile functional problem, causing them to lose their ability to maintain erections.

Dealing with Erectile Problems

If you’re experiencing any of these erectile functional problems, you’ll need help in order to regain your ability to achieve and maintain fully rigid erections. One way you can do that is by taking an excellent all-natural male sex enhancement supplement that can help you get rid of erectile dysfunction.

This contains natural ingredients that are safe and proven effective in treating impotence. Horny goat weed, Tongkat Ali, and maca are just some of the herbal ingredients contained in it. These herbs are all known for their efficacy in improving erectile function.

Tongkat Ali, for example, is great for men who are having problems maintaining strong erections. That’s because Tongkat Ali works by preventing the contraction of your corpus cavernosa smooth muscles. This means that those smooth muscles will stay relaxed, allowing more blood to flow through your penile arteries into your corpus cavernosa.

In addition, it also contains Tribulus terrestris, another herb that’s also widely known for its pro-erectile effects. Tribulus terrestris can also help increase your testosterone levels and improve your sexual desire. Moreover, Tribulus terrestris can also enhance your fertility by promoting sperm production and improving your sperm motility.