Does your erection Flex / Jump as your getting aroused?

[moxsum]

Hey Guys,

Been dealing with prostatitis like symptoms for the past 3-4 months. The most troubling of which being erections that aren't as strong as they used to be and seem to go away very quickly without stimulation. Also loss of libido.

Since I've been paying a lot more attention to my sexual functioning (probably too much) I've noticed that, most of the time when I do get an erection, it doesn't smoothly fill up with blood. It seems like my BC muscle spasms involuntarily and each time fills more blood into the penis. I suppose this is somewhat normal? But it rarely is like a smooth flow of blood with my penis raising up. It kind of jumps up, then down, up, down until I get a decent erection.

Is this normal for everyone? Could it be some kind of muscular/neurologic thing / could it be causing my symptoms? I've also noticed my anal muscle contract seemingly involuntarily sometimes while I'm passing a BM. Any ideas?

Weird thing is. This week for like 2-3 days I was feeling horny again. Had pretty good erections that weren't withering too quickly. Now it seems a bit worse again? I had a rolfing session done where the guy was pushing on my pubic bone/pelvis and took some L-Arginine before those 2-3 days of feeling good sexually again.

Thanks Guys!

[webslave]

The penis does not rise smoothly, but under the influence of the pressure provided by the beating of the heart. The sensation of "throbbing" is due to pulsation of the cavernosal arteries. This is normal.

[moxsum]

Hey guys. Maybe I'm just freaking out over nothing but. The past 2 days, when I've been "semi" aroused. Like I'm just having a few sexual thoughts. My erections been doing a weird thing. Its like the first half of it fills with blood, and then the end half is skinny like with no erection, and it feels like the blood is trying to push though this second half but is getting stuck somehow. Weird thing is, when I am fully aroused the second half seems to fill.

Any idea what this could be? Maybe its just a passing thing, or nothing at all? Has anyone else ever experienced this? Is there something in my penis making it difficult for blood to pass through? When fully erect my penis tilts to the left. Like from the base, and its been like that a few years but wasn't like that when I was younger. Could this be a problem? I don't think its peyronies because I've never experienced pain. And until this prostatitis never had any ed problems.

[webslave]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyronie%27s_disease

This is not related, that we know of, to UCPPS.

[moxsum]

Dr Zeitlin gave me a sample of viagra for when I feel my erections arent as strong. I've never tried viagra or anything like it before. Who has? What can I expect from it? Will I have a raging hard on all night long and be able to have lots of sex? Or will it be more mild?

[h92]

When fully erect my penis tilts to the left. Like from the base, and its been like that a few years but wasn't like that when I was younger

I have the same symptom that's clearly related to chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome : when I'm in a flare up it's less straight, and I'm doing good it's straight. "Funny" thing is that for me it's way more like this when I'm not in erection : erections tend to put it straight again (but it'll re-bend after erection).
In my case I think it's because I am way more tense on the right side than on the left side (up to the point where we more or less only work on right side with the PT since left side is nearly normal).

It is my opinion that muscle tensions can disrupt flows to the penis. This may also be why I experience "dry" glans when in a flare-up.

[moxsum]

Hey webslave I have some questions.

One of the first symptoms I noticed was weak erections. Even before I knew what prostatitis was, erections were the first problem. Then after I was told I had prostatitis and my sperm count was low, my libido practically vanished overnight. Since then things have improved a bit. However, I've noticed. I can go through a few days where I feel pretty horny. And have pretty good erections. Then it seems to go away again, and I don't feel much sex drive and maybe slightly weaker erections. Any idea why this would be happening? Kind of like an up/down sex drive/erection hardness? Surely the muscle tension isn't going away/then coming back right?

Also, how can I deal with the libido? I'm guessing its mostly a psychological thing. But then why would I be really horny sometimes and then not at all other times?

I think I've been putting too much pressure on myself to be horny all the time. And anytime I sense that I don't feel horny, I start catastrophizing and wondering if I will ever have a normal sex drive again. Its a problem for me. Where I keep judging myself. For example. I'm in a situation that isn't sexually arousing at all. Like I wake up in the morning and I wonder why I don't feel horny. But I'm not around a girl or anything.

Did you once experience low libido? Was it psychological? How did you deal with it? Do you have a normal libido now (like it was before prostatitis) ?

Thank you.

[webslave]

Fluctuating sex drive is a well known symptoms of UCPPS. Libido can wax and wane. I had it too. You can try zinc tablets, they boosted my sex drive. Eventually my libido returned to normal, after years of low libido, so no need to worry unduly about this.

[moxsum]

any idea what causes the fluctuating libido? I've noticed, when I get an erection, I feel horny.. and not really the other way around.. like .. I dont feel horny first.. then later on get an erection..

So when I'm getting spontaneous erections, I feel horny and manly.. and if I'm not getting them or they seem weak.. my libido is also weak.

Theres no effect on testosterone or anything? I read somewhere that one of the things that makes you feel horny is when your prostate is full of fluid .. its like your body wants to ejaculate.. and maybe with prostatitis the prostate doesn't fill up as efficiently so you feel less horny.

One of the other frustrating symptoms I have is weak orgasm and ejaculation.. my semen always used to squirt out.. like I would have 5-7 contractions and on each contraction a bit of semen would squirt out at-least a few inches.. but now it seems like just 1-2 contractions and it barely squirts out at all.. mostly just flows out. This leads to a less pleasurable feeling. IS this because the prostate is inflamed so the muscles in the prostate arent contracting properly to expel the semen? could I have a stricture?

Sorry for all the questions.. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer. I'm just trying to figure out whats going o with me, as I'm sure you were at one point too. What is your story ? did you make a post with your whole story at any point? Are you 100% cured now?

[webslave]

The nerves that penetrate the prostate and the muscles that surround it are affected by UCPPS. That's the shortest, simplest explanation of what's going on. The prostatic ducts often get inflamed as well, which leads to poor ejaculation. But the muscles that assist in ejaculation are also affected, because the are chronically tense and this weakens them. So you have narrowed ducts and weak muscles. Then the nerves innervating the prostate and pelvis are overused. UCPPS is an overuse syndrome, in that we overuse these nerves to perpetually tense the muscles of the pelvis at a low level. This neuropathy affects the functioning of the nerves in a negative way. Then there's the pain itself, which can make us depressed and worsen the underlying anxiety. Pain, depression and anxiety are big killers of libido. It's a nasty ball of wax. But it can and does get better, eventually.

[moxsum]

Ok .. thank you for that. I think I'm understanding it now.. makes a lot of sense. I guess the one part that I can't figure out is, how come I rarely feel any pain.. almost none and when I do its not really bad.. but I have the urinary/sexual dysfunctions that everyone else does? What does it mean if there isn't a lot of pain? is the nature of my tension different then someone who has a lot of pain? Do you recommend I see a physical therapist?

Would make sense as, before getting all these symptoms a few months ago, I had been through 6 months of intense anxiety and panic attacks.. I was probably tensing all my muscles down there constantly without knowing it.. I Also do martial arts (jiu jitsu) where I'm fighting all the time using my pelvis/hips and flexing/straining them a lot every week.. but I also stretch a fair amount. I wonder if this constant straining/activity of the hips contributes.. either way I dont see myself stopping martial arts as its one of my biggest passions.

[webslave]

Getting treatment for the intense anxiety and panic attacks may be the best thing you can do.

[moxsum]

Yea.. I've been seeing a CBT therapist for many months now and now have my panic attacks under control.. I still have more anxiety then I used to .. but I can deal with it better now..

Do you think peeing more then you need to could cause problems? I read once that emptying your bladder before sex can make you last longer because a full bladder puts pressure on the prostate which makes you cum quicker. After I read this I began peeing a lot before sex.. like if I feel I'm going to have sex within the next hour I normally pee a few times.. I've also noticed, that I seem to get the feeling like I need to pee again after just peeing when I'm anxious or anticipating sex. I suppose what I need to do is relax, and stop trying to predict when I will have sex and obsessively urinate.. and instead maybe pee one time before sex if I need to.

But, I'm still curious.. whats your opinion on.. why I have very little pain but erection/libido problems , occasional dribbling at end of streem, occasional feeling of needing to pee after just peeing.. etc.

[webslave]

It's the "prodromal phase" for UCPPS, in my opinion. I can tell you that to me, you seem to be an unusually tense and anxious person. The "urinating before sex" thing betrays a certain proclivity to neuroticism and anxiety, to be frank.

[moxsum]

I know.. I am a very anxious person.. I never realized how bad it was until this year.. But I am dealing with it the best I can.. seeing a therapist every week. At least I am aware of my anxieties now :) I've also come to learn the hard way, what kind of effect these psychological issues can have on my overall health.

So you believe in I'm the early stages of 'UCPPS'.. The good thing is.. to be honest, my symptoms have NOT gotten worse since I was diagnosed (except for right after diagnosis).. if anything they may have improved slightly.. Here are my main symptoms that I can't seem to shake; Up/Down sex drive, Up/Down Erections (1 day, decent , next day kind of weak), No ejaculation force, Occasional dribbling, slowing at end of stream, Occasional feeling of having to pee right after peeing

I've noticed they all seem to be worsened by anxiety/obsessing over the problem.. so I'm trying not to freak out about it too much. I've made a conscious effort not to sit with pressure on my pelvis for too long, and I bought a donut seat which I use as well. I've also made an effort through out the day to consciously relax my pelvis/anus .. at first I noticed my butt was clenching a lot through out the day.. but it seems better now. I've also made an effort to stop sitting on the toilet for a long time.. now I dont read anything I just get it over with. I also purchased one of those squatting seats.. will see if that helps. I am willing to go see a physical therapist if you believe that will help cure me of these symptoms. I sent an email to Dr. Wise but he wanted to talk on the phone to see if I was a good candidate his program.

Its weird, I already feel like I've made a lot of progress.. like, I honestly dont feel like I'm tensing my pelvis/butt much anymore, and in general have had a lot less anxiety lately.. yet I still have some symptoms that I can't explain.. I just dont understand how I can be really horny one day, with strong erection, then a few days later, feel no sex drive at all, no random erections.. If this UCPPS isn't having an effect on my hormones (testosterone) etc. Why would my sex drive be up and down? is it possible that, one day the nerves arent being irritated and the next day they are? I dont get it