Guide
Male Sexual Health Basics: How Erections Work and What Changes
An erection needs healthy blood vessels, working nerves, normal hormones and a calm mind. Low desire and erectile dysfunction are different problems with different causes. Erectile dysfunction becomes more common with age, but it is not a normal part of aging, and a doctor can look for the cause. A supplement does not replace that check.
Written by the Stallion Power label deskUpdated
The mechanism01
How does an erection work?
An erection is a blood-flow event that the brain, nerves, hormones and blood vessels all have to support at the same moment.
Sexual thought or touch sends signals from the brain and the nerves to the penis. Those signals let the blood vessels in the penis relax, so more blood flows in and the tissue firms. When any part of that chain is weak, the result can be an erection that is hard to start or hard to keep.
The medical definition is plain. Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a condition that prevents getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex (NIDDK, ED definition and facts). One bad night does not meet that definition. A pattern does.
That is why the causes of ED are so varied. NIDDK names heart and blood vessel disease, diabetes, nerve damage, low testosterone, thyroid problems, some medicines, and stress, anxiety and depression (NIDDK, ED causes). The oral ED medicines work on blood flow (NIDDK, ED treatment).
Blood vessels
They must widen to let blood in. Clogged or stiff vessels are a leading physical cause (Mayo Clinic, Erectile dysfunction).
Nerves
They carry the signal. Nerve damage is on the NIDDK list of causes (NIDDK, ED causes).
Hormones
Low testosterone and thyroid imbalance both appear as causes (NIDDK, ED causes).
Mind
Anxiety, depression and stress can interfere even when the body is fine (NIDDK, ED causes).
The full list of causes is in the guide to ED causes.
Two different problems02
What is the difference between low libido and erectile dysfunction?
Libido is desire. Erectile function is the body's ability to respond. A man can want sex and not get an erection, and a man can have normal erections and little interest. People mix the two up, and so do many product labels.
The causes and fixes differ. Low testosterone can cause both low sex drive and ED (MedlinePlus, Testosterone test), but ED also has causes that have nothing to do with hormones, such as blood vessel disease and certain medicines.
| Question | Low desire (libido) | Erectile dysfunction |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Little interest in sex | Trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex (NIDDK, ED definition and facts) |
| Can come from | Low testosterone, stress, depression, relationship strain (MedlinePlus, Testosterone test) (NIDDK, ED causes) | Blood vessel disease, diabetes, nerve damage, medicines, stress, low testosterone (NIDDK, ED causes) |
| First step | Talk to a clinician; a morning blood test may be part of it (MedlinePlus, Testosterone test) | A medical, sexual and psychosocial history, an exam and selected lab tests (AUA, Erectile Dysfunction Guideline) |
The first step is a doctor, not a shopping cart.
A fair question03
What is a normal amount of sexual desire?
There is no set number. We found no public health source that gives a normal frequency or level of desire, so we will not invent one. Desire varies between men and over time.
A better test than a number is change. If your interest or your erections have shifted from your own usual pattern, and the shift lasts, talk to a clinician. Marketing for male enhancement products often treats ordinary variation as a problem to fix. Be wary of any label that does.
Over time04
Does sexual function change with age?
Yes, ED becomes more common as men get older. NIDDK says research suggests 30 to 50 million men in the United States have ED, and its wording is that by age 40 about 40 percent of men are affected and by age 70 about 70 percent report it (NIDDK, ED definition and facts).
Common does not mean normal. Mayo Clinic says ED is not a typical part of aging, and that it can be a sign of a health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease (Mayo Clinic, Erectile dysfunction). Harvard Health calls it a possible early warning sign for other serious health problems such as heart disease or high blood pressure (Harvard Health, ED).
Older men are more likely to have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and long-term medicines, which are usual drivers of ED (NIDDK, ED causes). If your erections have changed, treat it as a health signal.
Younger men can have ED too. The ED causes guide covers ED under 40.
Chemistry05
Which hormones affect male sexual health?
Testosterone gets the attention, and for good reason. Low testosterone can reduce sex drive and cause erectile dysfunction, among other symptoms such as lost muscle mass, anemia and infertility (MedlinePlus, Testosterone test). Thyroid imbalance is also on the NIDDK list of causes of ED (NIDDK, ED causes).
Testing is simple but it has rules. The test is a blood sample, usually drawn in the morning, between 7 and 10, when testosterone is typically highest (MedlinePlus, Testosterone test). The AUA guideline on testosterone deficiency says a man is a candidate for therapy only when low levels and symptoms are both present, and that the symptoms are nonspecific and can reflect other conditions, such as chronic fatigue, chronic stress or a low mood (AUA, Testosterone Deficiency Guideline). The AUA ED guideline also says morning total testosterone should be measured in men with ED (AUA, Erectile Dysfunction Guideline).
- Supplements sold for testosterone have a weak record. A systematic review of 11 studies found the evidence suggests tribulus is ineffective for raising testosterone in humans (Qureshi 2014, Tribulus review).
- Tell the clinician about every supplement before a test. MSK notes that maca may interfere with testosterone immunoassays (MSK, Maca).
Stallion Power lists tribulus and maca in its blend without amounts. The ingredients page shows how little room the label leaves for each.
Stallion Power: from $49 a bottle30 gummies a bottle · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day guarantee
See packsHead and body06
Can stress affect sexual performance?
Yes. Anxiety, depression and stress are on the NIDDK list of mental and emotional causes of ED (NIDDK, ED causes).
The effect can feed itself. One difficult night brings worry about the next, and the worry makes it harder. NIDDK notes that counseling can help when mental or emotional issues contribute (NIDDK, ED treatment).
If erections work in some settings and fail in others, tell the clinician. It is a clue, not a diagnosis. Stress also tends to bring less exercise and more alcohol, which our vitality habits guide covers.
Where supplements fit07
What a supplement can and cannot tell you
A gummy cannot diagnose why something changed. The FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are sold (FDA, Q&A on dietary supplements), and a supplement label may not claim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent a disease (FDA, Structure/function claims). The Stallion Power bottle carries short claims marked with a dagger, such as “SUPPORT CONFIDENCE†”, and the boxed FDA statement that says those claims have not been evaluated.
NIDDK advises talking with your health care professional before using dietary supplements (NIDDK, ED treatment). If you take a prescription medicine, keep taking it as directed, and ask first. Our supplements and medications guide lists the questions.
Chest pain, fainting, an erection that lasts longer than four hours, or sudden vision or hearing loss need emergency care. This holds for ED drugs and for any product that may hide one (MedlinePlus, Sildenafil) (NIDDK, ED treatment).
To read the Stallion Power label itself, see the supplement facts page.
Questions08
Male sexual health questions
How does an erection work?
Signals from the brain and nerves let blood vessels in the penis relax, so blood flows in and the tissue firms. A problem with vessels, nerves, hormones or mood can disrupt it (NIDDK, ED causes).
What is the difference between low libido and erectile dysfunction?
Low libido is little interest in sex. Erectile dysfunction is trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex (NIDDK, ED definition and facts). They can occur together, but the causes and checks differ.
What is a normal amount of sexual desire?
No public health source we read gives a normal level, so we will not quote one. A lasting change from your own pattern is the signal to raise with a clinician.
Does sexual function change with age?
ED becomes more common with age, but Mayo Clinic says it is not a typical part of aging and can signal a health condition (Mayo Clinic, Erectile dysfunction).
Which hormones affect male sexual health?
Testosterone is the main one, and thyroid hormones also matter. Low testosterone can lower sex drive and cause ED (MedlinePlus, Testosterone test).
Can stress affect sexual performance?
Yes. Anxiety, depression and stress are listed causes of ED, and counseling can help (NIDDK, ED causes) (NIDDK, ED treatment).
FAQ09
Stallion Power questions people ask
How does an erection work?
Signals from the brain and nerves let blood vessels in the penis relax, so blood flows in and the tissue firms. A problem with vessels, nerves, hormones or mood can disrupt it (NIDDK, ED causes).
What is the difference between low libido and erectile dysfunction?
Low libido is little interest in sex. Erectile dysfunction is trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex (NIDDK, ED definition and facts). They can occur together, but the causes and checks differ.
What is a normal amount of sexual desire?
No public health source we read gives a normal level, so we will not quote one. A lasting change from your own pattern is the signal to raise with a clinician.
Does sexual function change with age?
ED becomes more common with age, but Mayo Clinic says it is not a typical part of aging and can signal a health condition (Mayo Clinic, Erectile dysfunction).
Which hormones affect male sexual health?
Testosterone is the main one, and thyroid hormones also matter. Low testosterone can lower sex drive and cause ED (MedlinePlus, Testosterone test).
Can stress affect sexual performance?
Yes. Anxiety, depression and stress are listed causes of ED, and counseling can help (NIDDK, ED causes) (NIDDK, ED treatment).
Who wrote this10
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC, NIDDK, AHA and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Gostallionpower, a Stallion Power U.S. merchant desk, not by the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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