Penis & Testicle Concerns / Question
Published: September 26, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I'm 21; recently I'm having problems with getting a full penis erection and keeping it erect. Can you please tell me if this has to do with any of the following: 1. Smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day 2. Masturbating a lot (3-4 times a day) 3. A lot of junk food Please help me, I'm scared. The last thing I want is to be on Viagra or some erection medication. Thanks!
Signed: No Full Erection
Dear No Full Erection,
Unfortunately, TeenHealthFX cannot make diagnoses over the Internet, so it is impossible to tell you why you are having trouble getting a full penis erection and keeping it erect. Only a doctor can do that, and if this difficulty continues, you should make an appointment with your physician to get checked out. He or she should be able to run some tests to determine the cause of your problems and help come up with a solution that is acceptable to both of you.
Smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day might be a factor in your problem of maintaining an erection. Smoking affects blood flow in your veins and arteries and can also lower the level of testosterone in your body- both of these are crucial in achieving and maintaining an erection. Continued cigarette smoking over many years can ultimately lead to arteriosclerosis (the hardening and narrowing of the arteries), which causes a reduction in blood flow in all of the body's vessels, including the penis - this is a common cause for erectile dysfunction in older men.
In addition, TeenHealthFX is very concerned that you are smoking 20 cigarettes a day. FX cannot emphasize enough both the short- and long-term harmful effects of smoking. More than 434,000 people die each year from tobacco related illness, making it the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. And, your teeth get yellow, you smell bad and you cannot breathe effectively, which makes it much harder to get enough exercise and simply live a normal life. You really need to think about quitting smoking now because the longer you stay addicted, the harder it is to stop.
Eating a lot of junk food with too much fat and cholesterol can have similar effects as cigarette smoking in clogging your arteries. However, this usually causes erectile problems in older, obese individuals, not in teenagers. But, TeenHealthFX wants to remind you of the importance of eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise . These habits need to be developed during your teenage years so you can live a long, healthy life.
Finally, masturbation is a normal healthy activity. It does not cause any medical problems or have any serious long-term risks or side effects. Masturbating can be done as frequently as you wish as long as it does not interfere with your life.
Experts believe that psychological factors cause 10 to 20 percent of cases of problems with erection. These factors include stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure. However, in order to figure out why you are having problems with your sexual functioning, you should see a doctor so he or she can determine what exactly is going on and how best to fix it.
If you live in northern New Jersey and would like to meet with a doctor from the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health, you can call 973.971.6475 for an appointment. If you live outside of New Jersey, please call your local teen health clinic or Planned Parenthood.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
While 93% of teenage women report that their first intercourse was voluntary, one-quarter of these young women report that it was unwanted. 
