How to Make Your Erection Last (Without Pills)
Research shows you should do those Kegel exercises and eat your beans.
Medieval sexologists had some whacky theories on how to make sexy time last. Supposedly, flatulence caused erections to last longer, so doctors told all the horny medieval kids to eat their beans.¹
Aren’t you happy I never give you such un-sexy advice? Hold that thought…
Oddly, medieval physicians were on to something. Recent research found the secret to keeping the party tent up might lie in your wind. Or, more specifically, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) — the gas that gives your gas that oh-so-romantic rotten egg smell.
In this study, researchers injected a hydrogen sulfide solution into penis tissue in vitro. That’s when something magical happened — the blood vessels in the tissue relaxed. Researchers theorized that the relaxed blood vessels would increase blood supply to the penis and result in a longer-lasting erection.
And sure enough…when they injected the hydrogen sulfide solution into rats, those repressed rats morphed into pornstar rodents.
But before you start inhaling burritos, you probably should wait for results from human trials. Some experts even predict that “fart pills” will soon replace Viagra. (Let’s just hope they come up with a sexier name.)
Until then, the following are less gassy ways to make your erection last.
Kegel exercises
You probably have only thought of Kegels as those pelvic floor exercises that women do to keep their lady bits in shape. But Kegel exercises also help men maintain an erection (if done correctly.)
The pelvic floor muscles are located at the base of the penis around the anus and urethra. These muscles stop and start the flow of urine and bowel movements. They also can be trained to delay ejaculation.
In one small study, 40 men with lifelong premature ejaculation used a combination of Kegel exercises and electrical stimulation to delay ejaculation. All test subjects had tried and failed other options, including local anesthetic creams that numb the penis, behavioral therapy (including the squeeze and start-and-stop techniques), and psychological treatment (antidepressants).
The results were encouraging. More than 80 percent of men tripled the length of time they could maintain their erections with Kegel exercises.
How to do Kegel exercises correctly
Kegel exercises may look easy, but it takes some practice to identify the correct muscles. Let’s first review our penis anatomy.
Make sure your boss isn’t looking over your shoulder. Dick pic coming at you…
One exercise is to start and stop your urine stream. Another technique is to pretend you are about to fart in the middle of giving an important presentation. You should feel your pelvic floor lift. Hold that contraction for 5 seconds. Repeat 10–20 times.
A few tips to isolate the pelvic floor muscles:
- Don’t hold your breath.
- Focus on lifting up and not bearing down.
- Do not tighten the muscles in your stomach, buttocks or thighs. That’s cheating.
Once you isolate those muscles, you can do Kegels anywhere and anytime. (I am doing them now while I write this!)
The start-and-stop technique
The start-and-stop technique works for many men, but it does take patience. In one study using a vibrator-assisted start-and-stop method, 61 percent of men delayed ejaculation.
In this sexercise, your partner stimulates your penis until you are on the threshold of cuming and then backs off. (This is also called “edging.”) Over time, you can train your brain to know when you are about to ejaculate so you can tap the brakes.
Incidentally, women can practice this technique and also have stronger orgasms. (And trust me…it works.)
The start-and-stop technique is certainly not easy, but as with all life’s endeavors, perseverance pays. With practice, advocates report the dick control of a zen master.
The squeeze technique
The squeeze technique sounds like medieval torture, but it works for some men. Masters and Johnson pioneered this vintage sex move in 1970, but even recent research found it delayed ejaculation by 7–9 minutes.
With this technique, you or your partner squeezes the head of the penis at the frenulum — the slightly raised area where the head (glans) joins the shaft. (see illustration.) Place your forefinger on the frenulum and your thumb on the other side of the penis. Hold for 15–20 seconds and release.
If you ask your partner to try this technique, discuss it before you get naked. Obviously, squeezing a penis is not like checking the ripeness of an avocado. So go slow and give your partner plenty of feedback.
And if you are the one doing the squeezing, try distracting your partner while applying pressure. You can try kissing or using your other hand to massage a different part of their body.
Increase flavonoids
Flavonoids are the phytonutrients (plant chemicals) found in fruits and vegetables that give them their bright colors. They not only improve your cardiovascular health but can also make your erection a tad more vivacious.
Recently, researchers found some promising results on increasing flavonoids to improve erectile function. Flavonoids increase blood flow and keep the arteries flexible. And since the penile vessels are responsible for the juices flowing, eat those berries for the juiciest sex.
My last tip is simple but not easy — relax. Amazing sex does not require any erection, but it does require healthy self-esteem. And unfortunately, that is not something I can gift to you crazy Medium kids.
Always remember that the hottest sex will be the most comfortable sex. Thus, I will leave you with my usual born-in-the-wrong-century advice — great sex is worth the wait. So wait until you have found the person who makes you feel the most relaxed.
Or, at the very least, rip a page from the horny medieval handbook. Find someone with whom you can enjoy copious beans and still have mad hot sex.
Sources and further reading:
All studies are provided in links.
(1) Cadden, Joan. Nothing Natural Is Shameful: Sodomy and Science in Late Medieval Europe. United States, University of Pennsylvania Press, Incorporated, 2013, 52.
Spitz, Aaron. The Penis Book: A Doctor’s Complete Guide to the Penis — From Size to Function and Everything in Between. United States, Rodale Books, 2018.
The above information is for educational purposes only. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
