Erectile disfunction how common is it?

[lifeshocker]

Have been with my partner 20 years he has just turned 40 and this has never happened before but six times in the last three weeks he has gone soft just before sex. Previously hard and then out of nowhere just loses it. Nearly every time he has got it back and we have carried on. Just wondering is this common? He is a heavy smoker recently started again after giving up for 10 years.could that be contributing. Is it his age? Any advice on how to deal with this please.

Does he have blood pressure problems?

I'd also be thinking about underlying health problems. Overweight? Unfit? Smoking does nasty things to blood-vessels, arteries and the amount of oxygen in the blood... none of which are going to help anything relying on blood-flow. I'd also want to know why he's gone from being an ex-smoker to a heavy smoker after 10 whole years. Is he under a lot of stress, for example? It's definitely worth him having a thorough health check with the GP.

Needs to see dr and yes, smoking can play a big part in erectile dysfunction.

Not sure how common it is, try to find a specialist/offical website.

My ex OH had this for quite a while. Your OH will need a testosterone blood test and blood pressure check etc. Doctor should be able to sort it...

No to blood pressure problems, so should I he be concerned? Is it not just something that happens as you get older? Thanks for replies

It's not inevitable... certainly not in a man that's just turned 40. Read what NHS Choices has to say on causes. Hypertension, anxiety, high cholesterol, diabetes. Erectile dysfunction can be an early warning of other conditions so worth the trip to the GP.

Could be problems ranging from health to guilt.

Yes I think it's common from time to time. Frequency could indicate a health problem but also the more it happens the more anxious he feels the worse it gets.

Relax, enjoy when you can and go to your gp