Hi Dr Eve. I need advice.I am a 52 year old married male. I recently have problems getting a stiff erection. When I do some foreplay I do not get full stiffness and when I am about to penetrate it usually gets soft. This has occurred in the last about 2 years. Sometimes I get slight stiffness to penetrate but this in infrequent. About 2 years I had hypothyroidism and I am on 10mg Eltroxin. I know this causes a lack of Libido. IS there any medical treatment to restore full erection? Will full stiffness ever come back. My wife is very understanding but I am quite upset about it. Please advice. I am in your old city Durban. IS there any doctor I could go to for any treatment. Please advice.

Dr. Eve Answers:

Full stiffness is what we aim for in men of all ages, illnesses and stages of life. And it is possible, To get there you and your wife need to go through a process of assessment and examination by an informed Health Care Provider. Both of you. Start with your urologist who will send you for lab tests for basic medical conditions such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol. Lab tests must be conducted on your sex hormones, including PSA for prostate. Once these results out, your specialist will physically examine you. AT the same time attention must be given to your wife's health and sexual health. Depending on outcome of tests, your specialist will decide on course of management. If for example, you have low testosterone, this can be treated once you are found to be a good candidate for replacement. And of course the aim is to give you a grade 4 rigid erection, so once your and your wife's health taken care of , you will be assessed whether or not you are a good candidate for PDE5I , such as Viagra, Levitra or Cialis.

I urge you to go through this process - it really will make a huge difference to your relationship and the quality of your life.