Why erections sometimes change during sex

Common, temporary reasons for changes — and why they're usually not a disease.

Moderate evidence · Review status: NOT_REVIEWED

Tiredness, stress, distraction, alcohol, anxiety or an unfamiliar situation can all temporarily affect erections. It is very common to lose some firmness at times, for example when attention shifts.

Occasional difficulty does not automatically mean a medical condition.

Sources

• Erection problems (erectile dysfunction) — NHS (UK National Health Service)
• Symptoms & Causes of Erectile Dysfunction — NIDDK (U.S. National Institutes of Health)