How long does an erection normally last?
No clinical guideline sets a normal length of time for an erection during sex. The closest measure is an overnight test, in which an erection of at least 60% rigidity lasting 10 minutes or more shows that the physical erection mechanism works. Losing the erection after ejaculation is normal, while an erection lasting beyond four hours without arousal needs urgent care.
What does the overnight erection test measure?
Nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity testing records erections during sleep on at least two separate nights. It measures the number of erections, how much the penis swells, how rigid it becomes and how long each erection lasts.
An erection of at least 60% rigidity at the tip of the penis for ten minutes or more shows that blood flow, nerves and erectile tissue can produce a working erection. Men whose erectile dysfunction is mainly psychological usually have normal results, so the test helps separate physical from psychological causes. It is a diagnostic benchmark, not a target for how long an erection should last during sex.
Is losing an erection after ejaculation normal?
Losing the erection after ejaculation is a normal part of sexual response. Some men who notice this believe they have erectile dysfunction when the real problem is premature ejaculation.
"Furthermore, some patients are unaware that loss of erection after ejaculation is normal and may erroneously complain of ED, while the actual problem is PE." Source 1, p. 60
Delayed ejaculation is a separate problem, defined as a marked delay or absence of ejaculation on 75% to 100% of occasions for at least six months. The reverse of the first pattern also happens. Many men with erectile dysfunction develop premature ejaculation because of anxiety about getting and keeping an erection, so the two are told apart before treatment.
When is a short-lasting erection a sign of erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is the persistent inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for satisfactory sex. The medical history records the rigidity and duration of both erections during sex and morning erections, which helps show whether the problem is consistent.
Erectile dysfunction becomes more common with age. In a German study of men aged 30 to 80, its prevalence was 19.2%, rising steeply from 2.3% to 53.4% across the age range. Because erectile dysfunction can be an early sign of heart disease, it is treated as a reason to check heart risk factors.
How long do treatments keep an erection firm?
PDE5 inhibitor tablets work within a window that starts 30 to 60 minutes after a dose and can last up to 12 hours, depending on the tablet. In one study, improved erections were reported by 56%, 77% and 84% of men taking 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg of sildenafil, compared with 25% on placebo.
After an injection into the penis, the erection appears within 5 to 15 minutes and lasts according to the dose injected. With a penile implant, the erection lasts as long as the man wants. An erection that persists beyond four hours without sexual stimulation is priapism and needs emergency treatment.