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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

25 year old partner struggling with Erectile disfunction

31 replies

kittykat818 · 14/04/2024 20:40

Hi, myself and my partner are both 25, we have been together for just over 6 years. Our sex life has always been great up until the last year or two. I was having issues with recurrent yeast infections (thrush) triggered by sex and this led to some other issues between us two and sex was off the cards for a while. When we did try to have sex my partner struggled to stay hard, he said he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about the fact the sex was going to lead to me being unwell. We ended up breaking up for a few months but were both miserable and decided to try again. We have found if we use condoms I don't get thrush and for a few months this was great and we had our sex life back and better than ever. In the last 6 months or so my partner has had a really stressful time with his family and work so we have found we have been having sex less, when we have tried recently he hasn't been able to maintain an erection again. This really bothers him, he gets upset and angry with himself. He has assured me he is extremely attracted to me and think our relationship would be perfect if this wasn't an issue. He has said when we go to have sex he cant stop thinking about the fact he might not be able to stay hard, this discourages him from initiating sex often as he thinks it is pointless because he wont stay hard. When we do have sex all he can think about is the fact he will loose his erection so he cant relax or enjoy it. I have tried my best to reassure him and make him feel better but the issue remains. Today he cried when it happened again and he was saying he doesn't feel like a man. Physically he is fine and everything works and he has never been a huge watcher of porn so we are both sure this isn't the issue, it generally seems to be a matter of overthinking and a sort of self fulfilling prophecy! I don't know what I can do to help and I am worried this will end our relationship, we are only 25 and both obviously want fulfilling sex lives. Every other area of our relationship is great so it seems such as shame. Can anyone help or share experiences? Thanks x

OP posts:
Snugglemonkey · 14/04/2024 21:29

Find a sex therapist through COSRT. It is very treatable.

kittykat818 · 14/04/2024 21:32

@Snugglemonkey I will suggest it, I hate brining it up because I know its making him feel rubbish about himself but its not really something either of us feel able to talk about with friends/family for obvious reasons...!

OP posts:
Bobbotgegrinch · 15/04/2024 16:07

Hey, 40 year old man here who has been dealing with this issue periodically since my early 20s. For me it was a relationship in its dying days that caused it.

The next two women I went out with ended up being non-starters, because I couldn't get hard for them. I then had a drunken one night stand with someone, and it happened again. However she was completely unbothered by it, and we proceeded to have about as much fun as you can have without a penis being involved. The next morning we had another go, and all was well.

However, once its happened once, it lives rent free in the back of your head for ever more. So there have been a few periods over the years where the "Melty man" has haunted me. (Sorry, been rewatching a lot of Coupling recently!)

Basically, it goes like this. There I am having perfectly good sex, and out of nowhere the thought pops into your head "Am I losing my erection". At that exact point in time, the answer is actually no. But its becomes a self fulfilling prophecy, because now you're thinking about that instead of the sex you're having, and so now its gone down, and you feel like crap. And then the next time you have sex you know its going to happen, and you're stuck in a self fulfilling loop.

There are things that can help though :-

Communication - Now obviously this one is difficult. He's feeling shame, guilt, that somethings wrong with him. He's not going to talk about it but he needs to. Talking about it makes it become less shameful. He needs to know that you understand that it's not a reflection on you, that you know he still finds you attractive. That penetration isn't everything, and that you're happy to do other stuff if he can't get erect. This isn't a conversation for just after a failed session, when he's feeling at his worst. Go for a walk somewhere (out of earshot of others) and have it then.

Do other stuff - Don't let the night end limply. When he can't get it up, say something like "I'd love it if you went down on me", or lie on top of him and have a good make out session.

Lights on, covers off - As I said, this starts with a mental "Am I going soft". However, its hard to dismiss the evidence of your own eyes.

A firm grip - We can't actually tell how hard we are in the absence of external stimulus. A long drawn out handjob or blowjob where you've got a loose grip on him feels really nice, but it also makes him feel like he's going softer.

Take control - For me, the point where I'm most likely to go soft is when I'm about to start PIV. There's something about those few seconds after foreplay ends and penetration starts, so take it out of his hands. Jump on him, pop it in, before he knows whats happened. (Actually, I've just remembered you said you're using condoms, so theres going to be an inevitable break here)

Masturbation - You mentioned that he doesn't watch porn, so possibly he's not masturbating much. Masturbation is good, in a "See, I can get an erection when the pressures off, there's nothing wrong with me physically at least"

Fleshlight - Again, for me, penetration is the point where things are most likely to go wrong. A male sex toy that he has to penetrate can help with that in the same way as my last point.

Alcohol - A couple of beers can take the edge of, many beers on the other hand are unlikely to be helpful.

Anyway, these are just the ways I've learnt to deal with it over the years. They may help, they may not. The only real way to deal with it is to learn that it's not a big deal, but thats a hell on a thing to do, and may take a long time. I'm still getting there.

category12 · 15/04/2024 16:44

He could try cialis as an assist to try to get his confidence back?

Painauraison · 15/04/2024 17:04

He needs to see a GP to rule out anything serious.
Is he eating healthily and exercising 3x per week?
If he masterbates alot then he'll be holding too tight and then not be able to keep it hard with proper sex.
This seems to work for my husband, no sugar or alcohol takeaways or else it doesn't work 😬 seems to be a problem that's getting more common in younger men.
Is he willing to seek help?

kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 17:19

@Bobbotgegrinch I hope it isn't the case of the relationship dying... he was who initiated us getting back together, he has said he is happy in every other aspect of the relationship but we both know we wont stand the test of time if we are unable to have a healthy sex life.

I am under the impression he probably would be able to have sex with another woman and it is more the build up in his head when having sex with me as he has only faced this issue with me... I have only slept with him whereas he had a lot more experience before we met...

We have been trying to speak about it but I must say I avoid it as I don't want to upset him or ruin the mood...but we did have a long chat yesterday.

I think this issue has effected his self esteem and sex drive, I reassured him I have no issue with him masturbating at all and have almost been encouraging it just so he can see everything is working and he does know that but the pressure of the occasion just seems to get to him!

I think the condoms probably do play a role as it creates a moment where he cant be distracted but there's not too much I can do about that at this stage as I don't want to suffer the consequences of not using them!

He has said he doesn't feel good and that he hates not being able to satisfy me but I have tried to make it clear we don't need full penetration for that... we have always had a great sex life so I think that has made the issue more apparent as it is such a contrast to what we have been used to.

OP posts:
kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 17:20

@category12 I had previously suggested this, although it is not a physical issue I think having that confidence it wont go down might help and make him break out of this rut but generally he is quite anti medication...

OP posts:
kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 17:22

@Painauraison I don't think it is a physical issue as he is able to masturbate with no problem but we have spoken and this is not something he often does, i think it is all mental.

I would say his diet is not terrible but not amazing either... he works in finance so a lot of busy days and quite a bit of drinking so that might be a factor but has always been the case so I am not sure if it would change too much!

OP posts:
Southern68 · 15/04/2024 18:22

If there's stress that won't help. Have you thought about taking penetrative sex off the menu for a couple of weeks, make a deal that you can both be as naughty as you like with each other, but no penetration, sometimes a bit of reverse psychology can help. Then see about re introducing it.

Aquamarine1029 · 15/04/2024 18:27

Has he been treated for thrush? He's probably the reason you keep getting it.

kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 19:35

@Southern68 We have done this without trying, my partner has said he will see me and want to have sex but stop himself trying as he is worried he wont be able to stay hard. I am then generally a bit upset as I don't feel desired but he keeps assuring me that is not the case! When he does build up the courage everything is fine and going well and then a few mins in he feels himself get a little soft and stops... I dont like to try and initiate anymore as I dont want to put pressure on him but he has said he has noticed that I have stopped and thinks it because I know he wont satisfy me which isn't the case at all!

OP posts:
kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 19:36

@Aquamarine1029 Yeah he has been treated a dozen times without success, the only way we have found it stays away is if I take quite a strong medication which I would rather not do or if we use condoms

OP posts:
PoochiesPinkEars · 15/04/2024 21:26

@Bobbotgegrinch that was an amazing and incredibly helpful post. Thank you!

kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 21:27

@Bobbotgegrinch @PoochiesPinkEars I agree thank you for giving a male perspective. I can't help but feel insecure that this is happening...

OP posts:
Thecatthatgotthesouredmilk · 15/04/2024 21:34

You say he has no problem masturbating? Is this to porn? Has he tried to masturbate without porn?

PoochiesPinkEars · 15/04/2024 21:38

@kittykat818 Aww, but this problem makes you both feel insecure! Ultimately the root cause may be nobodies fault, you're both freaking with the results in different ways though.
I wish you both luck. It can't be easy for him or you, but harder for him in the sense that he can't walk away from it if it causes relationship break down.
Thrush is no joke though and you can't do away with condoms if that's what happens.

kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 21:45

@Thecatthatgotthesouredmilk I don't think he has tried that, I haven't asked but I doubt he has tried ! I could suggest this

OP posts:
kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 21:47

@PoochiesPinkEars Yeah its definitely effecting his self confidence which is horrible to see as he is usually very confident in himself. I honestly do believe he would be okay with another woman which is the sad thing... I think it is just he has built up the issue with me in his head. The thrush made us both miserable and took sex of the cards completely so for me condoms were the better of two evils but I hate that it might have somewhat caused this negative effect!

OP posts:
PoochiesPinkEars · 15/04/2024 21:53

It's a really tricky one isn't it.
Sorry also, that was meant to say dealing with, not freaking with!

Bobbotgegrinch · 15/04/2024 21:53

kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 21:47

@PoochiesPinkEars Yeah its definitely effecting his self confidence which is horrible to see as he is usually very confident in himself. I honestly do believe he would be okay with another woman which is the sad thing... I think it is just he has built up the issue with me in his head. The thrush made us both miserable and took sex of the cards completely so for me condoms were the better of two evils but I hate that it might have somewhat caused this negative effect!

I can guarantee you that it'd be no different with another woman.

This is an issue in his head, affecting him. He could be with his absolute perfect fantasy woman and he's still going to have that little voice in his head going "Any second now, aaaaannny seconds now..."

This is going to happen to him ,no matter who he's with, until he learns how to deal with that little voice.

kittykat818 · 15/04/2024 21:59

@Bobbotgegrinch Thank you! I don't necessarily think it is about the way I look, if anything I have fortunately improved the way I look since we met quite a bit and I do think part of it and what he has said to me in the past is that he doesn't feel he is good enough for me (not true at all). I think it is more that he has associated these negative feelings with me and our sex life and he might not have that issue with someone else who doesn't have all this tied up pressure with

OP posts:
Thecatthatgotthesouredmilk · 16/04/2024 08:20

He really needs to ditch the porn. I suggest reading 'Your brain on porn'. Comes from a completely scientific stance on how porn affects our brains, desires, relationships etc. It is a big factor in ED in younger men.

You could maybe suggest you both read the book and work on limiting or stopping the porn for a period of time and see if this has any affect.

There is an online community of men who have given up porn and seen an improvement in their sex lives and mental health. NoFap is one.

kittykat818 · 16/04/2024 09:23

@Thecatthatgotthesouredmilk I really dont think porn is an issue in our case, its not something he watches or uses regularly at all!

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Thecatthatgotthesouredmilk · 16/04/2024 10:30

How are you so sure. Many men hide the true extent of their porn habits. Have you asked him hiw often he watches it?

kittykat818 · 16/04/2024 11:00

@Thecatthatgotthesouredmilk I am very open about him watching porn, it's not something I feel anyway about so we have had some quite open conversations an I am pretty sure it is very minimal use. In fact I was the one encouraging him to masturbate and take that time for himself since we have been facing this issue. When we aren't having this issue he has shared he feels no need to watch porn or masturbate at all but again I've made it clear this wouldn't be a problem. I could be totally wrong but we are generally quite open about that kind of stuff.

OP posts: