Erection trouble: the privacy cure

Lack of privacy and intimacy during sex could be to blame for erection problems, especially in younger men, a large Italian study found.

Where were you the last time you had sex? Was it between the covers in the privacy of your own apartment? Or maybe you live with other people and were anxious about a roommate, or worse, a family member, walking in on you?

Not enough privacy during sex can be a pretty common complaint, especially for younger couples who don’t live together. But can it actually affect their sex life? This study of over 3700 men was the first to show it can, revealing just how important privacy and intimacy can be.

In the study, men who visited a clinic for sexual dysfunction answered questions about their sex life, relationships, and physical and mental health. They were also asked to rate whether they got enough privacy during sex, from ‘never’ through to ‘all the time’.

Erection problems

Sixteen percent of the men said that a lack of privacy was an issue at least sometimes, the study found. And this was especially true for younger men and for those who had a younger partner.

These men were more likely to have erection problems such as having a little difficulty getting hard or not being able to keep their erection during intercourse. Delayed ejaculation – when a man has a lot of trouble reaching a climax or never makes it at all – also had to do with a lack of privacy, the study showed.

When researchers dug deeper into the data, they found out that this group of men was actually healthier than those who said privacy was never a problem. Instead, it was non-physical causes that were probably involved in their sexual problems.

These men had more relationship issues, like conflict, or a partner who had lower sexual desire. And they were also were more likely to have anxiety or obsessive-compulsive behaviour.

No pharmaceuticals

That could be good news for younger men with erection problems. If a lack of privacy is an issue for them, even if it’s only some of the time, finding a way to have sex in a calm and intimate environment could help, say the researchers.

Instead of turning to pharmaceuticals, changing their environment could be a way for men to overcome psychological factors like performance anxiety and distress, and just might be the solution to their erection problems.

Do you find it hard to find a private spot for sex? Leave a comment below or on Facebook.