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Urology

Expert answers from Urology physicians on health concerns and treatment options

Questions & Answers

564 articles

Q

Ginger for ED After 65: Blood Pressure and Blood Thinners

Ginger for ED after 65 can offer modest circulation and anti inflammatory support, but evidence is limited and it may lower blood pressure and increase bleeding risk, especially if you take antihypertensives or blood thinners. Start low, monitor blood pressure and any bruising or bleeding, and talk with your doctor; key details on safe dosing, product quality, interactions, and red flags are outlined below.

Q

Ginger for ED: The Spice That Might Help Blood Flow

Ginger for ED may support erections by promoting nitric oxide related blood flow, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and possibly boosting testosterone, but human evidence is still limited. There are several factors to consider. See below for practical dosing and forms, timing, side effects and interactions such as with blood thinners, and guidance on when persistent ED warrants medical evaluation for heart or metabolic disease.

Q

Men 65+: Pelvic Floor Exercises for ED After 65: What Works Best

For men over 65, pelvic floor muscle training, especially Kegels, is a safe, effective, non-drug option for ED, with trials such as Dorey 2004 and Filocamo 2005 showing meaningful improvement, particularly with supervised programs. Start with 10 to 15 contractions held 3 to 5 seconds, three sets daily, and consider biofeedback, gentle electrical stimulation, pelvic health physiotherapy, supportive lifestyle changes, and when to seek medical evaluation for red flags. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more.

Q

Over 65 With ED: Is Porn the Issue—or Blood Flow?

There are several factors to consider: in men over 65, ED is more often due to blood-flow and cardiovascular issues than to pornography, which tends to have psychological effects. Cutting back on porn can help if arousal patterns are involved, but prioritize a medical evaluation for vascular risk and consider lifestyle changes and PDE5 medications; see below for how doctors tell the difference, red flags that need urgent care, and the full range of treatment options.

Q

Over 65: Stress-Reduction Breathing for ED and Blood Pressure

For men over 65, slow, paced breathing can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and support penile blood flow, which may help erectile function; evidence-backed options include coherent breathing around 6 breaths per minute, diaphragmatic breathing, 4-7-8, and Sudarshan Kriya practiced 10 to 20 minutes daily. There are several factors to consider, including realistic timelines (often 2 to 4 weeks for blood pressure changes and 4 to 8 weeks for erectile improvements), how to track progress and pair breathing with lifestyle or medications, and safety red flags that require medical care; see the complete guidance below to choose the right next steps.

Q

Pelvic Floor Training for ED: What Trials Show

Clinical trials show pelvic floor muscle training can improve erectile function, with the Dorey 2005 pilot randomized trial finding 67 percent improved at 12 weeks vs 30 percent with lifestyle advice alone. There are several factors to consider: benefits are strongest for mild to moderate ED, require consistent daily practice and often supervision or biofeedback, with results in 4 to 12 weeks; see below for how to do the exercises, who should seek care, and how to combine this with other treatments and lifestyle changes.

Q

Performance Anxiety ED: Mechanism + Evidence-Based Strategies

Performance anxiety ED occurs when fight or flight activation and intrusive worry divert attention from arousal, constrict penile blood vessels, and reduce nitric oxide, creating a self-reinforcing loop of erection difficulty. Evidence-based fixes include psychoeducation, CBT, sensate focus, mindfulness and relaxation, gradual exposure and partner communication, with PDE5 inhibitors and lifestyle changes as useful adjuncts after ruling out medical causes; there are several factors to consider, and the complete, step-by-step details that can shape your next steps are outlined below.

Q

PIED: The “Reset” Everyone Talks About—Does It Work?

A porn reset, a 30 to 90 day break from porn and often masturbation, can help many men with PIED by reducing overstimulation and allowing real-life arousal to recover, though high-quality trials are limited and results vary. There are several factors to consider, and you will likely do best when the reset is paired with exercise, sleep, therapy, and partner-focused intimacy; see below for step-by-step instructions, realistic timelines, and when to seek medical evaluation, since these details can change your next steps.

Q

Porn-Induced ED: What’s Known, What’s Speculation, What Helps

What is known, what is speculative, and what helps: porn-related erection difficulties are supported mainly by case reports and surveys linking heavy, novel porn use to desensitization and problems during partnered sex, while large controlled trials proving causation or universal timelines are still lacking. Improvement often comes from a structured porn break or reduction, CBT or couples therapy, mindfulness, exercise, good sleep, limiting alcohol, and medical evaluation for other causes with possible short-term meds, but the best plan depends on your situation. There are several factors to consider, including psychological contributors, tracking progress, and when to seek care; see the complete details below.

Q

The #1 Workout Change That Can Improve ED

Pelvic floor muscle training is the number one workout change for improving ED; targeted Kegels done about 3 times per week for 12 weeks strengthen the muscles that trap blood in the penis and have been shown to raise IIEF scores and improve rigidity and control. There are several factors to consider, like learning the proper technique, combining PFMT with aerobic and resistance training, and knowing when ED may signal a health condition; see the complete details below to guide safe next steps and maximize results.

Q

The 5-Minute Exercise That Can Improve ED

A 5-minute daily pelvic floor Kegel routine is an evidence-backed, drug-free way to improve erectile quality by strengthening the muscles that help trap blood in the penis, with trials showing many men notice meaningful gains in 2 to 3 months. There are several factors to consider, including how to find the right muscles and follow the step-by-step sequence, who is most likely to benefit, when to seek medical care for red flags, and how to combine this with medications or devices for best results; see complete details below.

Q

The 60-Second Breathing Trick for Better Erections

A 60-second breathing exercise can improve erections: inhale for 5 counts and exhale for 5 counts, about 12 breaths total, to shift your nervous system toward relaxation, reduce performance anxiety, and enhance nitric oxide and blood flow. There are several factors to consider for lasting results, including lifestyle changes, pelvic floor exercises, combining with medications, and knowing when to seek medical care; see the complete how-to, benefits, and red flags below.

Q

Women: Cinnamon for ED—Is This Actually About Metabolic Health?

Cinnamon may help with erectile problems indirectly by improving metabolic health drivers like blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, and endothelial function, but there are no large trials proving a direct ED cure. There are several factors to consider; see below for how to pair it with exercise, weight management, and diet, plus why Ceylon cinnamon is safer for regular use. Typical food-level use is about 1 to 4 g daily, with medication interactions and liver cautions to note, and ongoing ED or red flag symptoms should prompt medical care. Key details that could change your next steps are outlined below.

Q

Women: Could Porn Be Causing His ED? How to Talk About It

There are several factors to consider. Excessive internet porn can contribute to erectile difficulties by desensitizing arousal pathways and conditioning arousal to specific porn cues, but ED also has common medical causes that a clinician should rule out with basic heart, hormone, and metabolic checks. A calm, blame free talk using I statements, a 4 to 12 week porn break, therapy such as CBT or couples counseling, healthy lifestyle changes, and short term ED meds when appropriate can help; see below for detailed steps, timelines, tests, and when to see a urologist so you can choose the right next move.

Q

Women: Exercise for ED—What I’d Encourage (and What I Wouldn’t)

For women supporting a partner with ED, encourage a balanced routine of aerobic exercise, 2 to 3 days of strength training, and daily pelvic floor exercises, plus gentle stretching to reduce stress; these approaches have evidence for improving erections. Avoid pushing through pain, unsupervised heavy lifting, and sudden extreme endurance, and seek medical care for red flag symptoms or serious conditions. There are several factors to consider, including specific time targets, motivation strategies, and when to see a clinician, so see the complete guidance below.

Q

Women: Garlic for ED—Is This a Useful Habit or Just Hope?

For women supporting a partner, garlic can be a small part of a heart-healthy routine that may aid blood flow, but direct proof it improves erectile dysfunction is limited and much weaker than proven treatments. There are several factors to consider. See below for how to use it safely, who should avoid it, lifestyle changes and medications with stronger evidence, and when to seek medical care, as these details can shape your next steps.

Q

Women: Ginger for ED—What I’d Try (and What He Should Skip)

Ginger can help some men with ED by supporting blood flow through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, but it is not a cure; try fresh-root tea or a reputable standardized supplement paired with lifestyle changes, and skip proprietary male enhancement pills, DIY mixes, and ingesting essential oils since results build over weeks. Side effects are usually mild but include heartburn and a higher bleeding risk with high doses or blood thinners, and ED can signal hidden heart, metabolic, or hormonal problems. There are several factors to consider; see below for exact dosing, what to avoid, timelines, safety interactions, and when to seek medical care.

Q

Women: He Wants to Try Cold Showers for ED—Is It Safe?

Cold showers are not proven to help ED; they constrict blood vessels, reducing penile blood flow, and they are not recommended in major ED guidelines. They can also spike heart rate and blood pressure or cause numbness, so men with heart disease, Raynaud’s, or advanced liver disease should be cautious or avoid them. Safer, evidence-based options include exercise, weight management, PDE-5 medications, and counseling; if he still wants to try, keep it brief and mildly cool, and see below for specifics, warning signs, and when to talk to a doctor because these details can affect the best next steps.

Q

Women: Kegels for ED—How I’d Support Him Without Making It Awkward

Kegel pelvic floor exercises can meaningfully improve erections and confidence, and you can support him without awkwardness by keeping communication positive, practicing together, setting simple reminders, and celebrating progress. There are several factors to consider, including proper technique, consistent 3 to 6 month practice, lifestyle support, checking for medical causes, and knowing when to speak with a doctor if symptoms persist or are severe; see below for step by step guidance, research highlights, and next steps.

Q

Women: Pelvic Floor Exercises for ED—What Progress Looks Like

Pelvic floor exercises can improve female arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain, with progress often starting in 1 to 2 weeks, becoming noticeable by 7 to 12 weeks, and building into longer term gains at 3 to 6 months. There are several factors to consider. If there is no improvement by 12 weeks, consider pelvic floor physical therapy and medical evaluation, and seek prompt care for severe pain or bleeding; see below for the step by step routine, progress milestones, tools that can accelerate results, and guidance on next steps.

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