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Published on: 5/6/2025

What Might Cause Trouble Maintaining an Erection When Using a Condom, and Is It Linked to Low Testosterone?

Condom use can sometimes cause anxiety, distraction, or decreased sensation that may interfere with keeping an erection, and this is usually not directly linked to low testosterone.

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Explanation

When a man has trouble maintaining an erection while using a condom, it can be due to several factors. Sometimes, using a condom may create extra worry or distract a man, which can interrupt his focus on sexual pleasure. This extra stress or anxiety can make it harder to maintain an erection. Other factors may include the feeling or fit of the condom that reduces sensitivity, making the experience less enjoyable. Overall, most research shows that these difficulties are more related to psychological or behavioral issues rather than a hormonal imbalance like low testosterone. Although low testosterone can affect overall energy and sexual function in some cases, the problems seen with condom use, often called condom-associated erection problems, are generally not caused by low testosterone. Instead, they are more about the experience, emotions, and physical sensations that change when a condom is involved in sexual activities. If these issues continue, talking to a healthcare provider might help to address any underlying concerns.

(References)

  • Hill BJ, Sanders SA, Crosby RA, Ingelhart KN, Janssen E. Condom-associated erection problems: behavioural responses and attributions in young, heterosexual men. Sex Health. 2015 Oct;12(5):397-404. doi: 10.1071/SH14051. PMID: 26166025; PMCID: PMC4712123.

  • Yafi FA, Jenkins L, Albersen M, Corona G, Isidori AM, Goldfarb S, Maggi M, Nelson CJ, Parish S, Salonia A, Tan R, Mulhall JP, Hellstrom WJ. Erectile dysfunction. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016 Feb 4;2:16003. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.3. PMID: 27188339; PMCID: PMC5027992.

  • Graham CA, Crosby R, Sanders S, Milhausen R, Yarber WL. Condom-Associated Erection Problems: A Study of High-Risk Young Black Males Residing in the Southern United States. Am J Mens Health. 2016 Mar;10(2):141-5. doi: 10.1177/1557988314561311. Epub 2014 Dec 4. PMID: 25475105.

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