Dr. Aditya Shah
Expert In Clinical Pharmacology And Drug SafetyView moreErectile Dysfunction is one of the main problems in an adult man’s life across the globe. Approximately 4 out of 10 men in the US, face problems with erection. Despite being such a common phenomenon among males, the topic is also surrounded with half-baked rumors and gossips far away from truth.
One such rumor floating in social circles is whether hot water leads to Erectile Dysfunction. Men have been delusional about hot shower, sauna bath or hot water massage being linked to sexual health. Here in this blog, we shall uncover the truth behind the floating rumor and how medications such as Sildenafil and Vardenafil prove helpful for men’s impotence.
The Core Question: Does Hot Water Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
In layman terms, the answer is a simple no, hot water is not connected with your erection. Erectile Dysfunction involves blood flow reaching into male reproductive part (penis) at the time of sexual stimulation.
Hot water or sauna release stress and uplifts mood making the person feel relaxed. This connection is mostly confusing and linked with erectile dysfunction. However, there is some connection between fertility and hot water.
The Difference Between Potency And Fertility
Potency and Fertility are mistakenly considered the same thing, but it is not.
| Factor | Potency | Fertility |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Ability to get and maintain an erection | Ability to reproduce and father a child |
| Focus | Sexual performance | Sperm health and conception |
| Related To | Erection quality | Sperm count, quality, and motility |
| Pregnancy | Does not guarantee pregnancy | Directly affects pregnancy chances |
| Example | A man can be potent but infertile | A man can be fertile but have erection issues |
- Potency: Potency refers to the erectile ability, whether the man is able to get an erection or not. This involves functioning of blood vessels, muscles, and nerves.
- Fertility: Fertility refers to sperm production and its quality.
Testicles like a sack of bags are located outside the body hanging. For production of sperm, it needs a certain temperature lower than body’s temperature. Hence, a hot water bath or sauna temporarily might affect production of sperm, but it has no role to play in erection.
How Hot Water Affects The Male Body
It is true that hot water does not lead to erectile dysfunction, but it brings certain changes in body, let’s discuss those.
➯ Temporary Vasodilation
Hot water exposure leads to widening of blood vessels, also known as vasodilation. This widening reduces blood circulation giving you a relaxing effect. But in some cases, if the blood pressure drops significantly, it can cause difficulty in achieving erection immediately after hot water exposure. But this is temporary, as once body’s temperature stabilizes blood pressure will return to normal.
➯ The Relaxation Factor
Stress is one of the major reasons for Erectile Dysfunction. Thus, hot water bath or sauna releases and uplifts your mood. So, it is actually beneficial for better erection by creating mental atmosphere that will lead to sexual drive.
➯ Testicular Thermoregulation
As discussed earlier, too much exposure of hot water on testicles can affect sperm production. Extreme heat is not suitable for testes as it reduces sperm’s mobility. If you are planning for copulation, this is genuine concern, but this occurs temporarily for some time.
After hot water bath is over, and body temperature returns to normal there is no such issue. So, you consider reducing frequency of hot water baths or saunas.
Common Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction
Physical Causes:
- Cardiovascular Disease: Any disease that includes blockage of arteries, impacts blood flow through arteries. Obesity is one such example.
- Diabetes: Excessively high glucose levels in blood can impact nervous system and blood circulation.
- Obesity: Deposition of cholesterol in arteries increase blood pressure as arteries are blocked. Excessive weight affects pelvic muscles and leads to hormonal changes as well.
- Neurological Disorders: Certain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis can block signals from brain to penis and vice versa.
Psychological Causes:
- Anxiety and Depression: For sexual stimulation and better erection a stable mental health is needed. During stress and excessive emotional turmoil erection becomes difficult.
- Performance Anxiety: Subconsciously men feel the need to perform better leading to anxiety. It is advisable not to stress yourself and go ahead with flow.
- Chronic Stress: Stress keeps the body in emergency mode, where it is ready to fight or flight. For erection stable mood is required.
Modern Solutions: The Role Of Medication
For treating ED, modern medications have proved successful in helping men achieve desired strong erect penis.
Sildenafil (Viagra)
Sildenafil is the most consumed Erectile Dysfunction medication globally due to its high efficacy. The drug smoothens muscles in pelvic region and relaxes blood vessels to ensure better blood flow in penis.
| Medicines | Tablet | Price | Price/Unit | Buy Now |
| Cenforce 100 Mg | 600 Tablet/s | $363 | $0.61 |
- Duration: Can last for 3 to 5 hours.
- Usage: Take the tablet 30 minutes to 1 hour before copulation. Note that the drug will only cause erection, it does not lead to stimulation.
Tadalafil (Cialis)
| Medicines | Tablet | Price | Price/Unit | Buy Now |
| Vidalista 20 Mg | 600 Tablet/s | $400 | $0.67 |
Tadalafil has prolonged half-life than other Erectile Dysfunction drugs. The working mechanism of all ED drugs is the same.
- Duration: Can last up to 36 hours maximum.
- Usage: In lower dosage it can be consumed every day. It leads to sudden erection after stimulation.
Vardenafil (Levitra)
| Medicines | Tablet | Price | Price/Unit | Buy Now |
| Vilitra 20 Mg | 300 Tablet/s | $165 | $0.55 |
Vardenafil is a subvariant of Sildenafil, hence these 2 share similar characteristics. For some patients Vardenafil proves to be more efficient even with lower doses.
- Duration: Like Sildenafil (3 to 5 hours)
- Usage: Usually, along with Erectile Dysfunction medicines, it is advised not to eat heavy or fatty meals. But Vardenafil is effective when consumed along with fatty meals.
Conclusion
The pre-conceived notion about hot water being a potent reason for ED is nothing more than a myth. Being consumed by this myth and suppress actual reason for ED can cause immense damage. Hence, if you feel issues with arousal or stimulation the underlying cause is something else. Reach out to the doctor for accurate treatment.
FAQs:
Q. Can Taking A Hot Bath Right Before Sex Affect My Performance?
Yes, excessive hot water can temporarily lower blood pressure, causing difficulty in achieving and maintain erection immediately. But “lukewarm” water is more suitable if you are planning copulation just after bath.
Q. Does “Shrinkage” From Cold Water Lead To Erectile Dysfunction?
No, shrinkage is a body’s mechanism to survive in cold conditions. It has no relation with ability to achieve erection.
Q. Are Medications Like Sildenafil Safe To Take If I Use A Sauna?
Sauna leads to reduction of blood pressure, and ED medicines also do the same. Hence, combining effects and aggressively reduce blood pressure leading to dizziness and even fainting.
Q. Which Is Better For Erectile Dysfunction: Tadalafil Or Sildenafil?
It depends on your lifestyle and work routine. Sildenafil is when your activity is planned, whereas Tadalafil gives you 36-hour time to act any time.
