Erectile dysfunction (ED) refers to the inability to get or maintain an erection long enough to have sexual intercourse. This form of sexual dysfunction has several causes, like ageing, reduced blood flow to the penis, excess body weight and more.
But as the temperatures plummet and winter sets in, you might find yourself suddenly struggling to maintain an erection as you desperately search 'erectile dysfunction winter' on the browser.
As it turns out, the body's response to the cold as well as the mental effects that often come with the winter season all have an impact on your sexual health.
If you're suffering from erectile dysfunction, you're not alone, as 1 in 2 Australian men will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives [1].
But while it's certainly a common issue, stigma continues to surround erectile dysfunction, causing many men to avoid talking about it or seek answers for their sexual health.
In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about the seasonal variation of ED, how it can be addressed, and the treatments available that will see you achieve lasting erections.
Can the weather impact your sex drive?
It might seem strange that winter and summer seasons could wreak havoc on your sex life, but studies have proven that the seasonal variations can actually impact your sex drive.
This is largely because different seasons can have a negative impact on your mental health, which in turn increases your risk of erectile dysfunction.
While this can occur at any time of the year, it's more common in winter as lower levels of sunlight affect the brain and increase amounts of melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel sleepy.
With this lower sunlight, you'll also experience a reduction in how much serotonin your body produces which is linked to depressive symptoms.
If you struggle with this, you might experience a persistent low mood, lack of energy, a general sense of fatigue, irritability, erectile dysfunction, or a significant drop in sex drive.
But just as the cold weather impacts your sex drive, so too does warm weather.
Studies have shown that the hormones that power your sex drive are stimulated by sunlight and warmth. Factors include:
- Greater exposure to sunlight: Increased exposure to sunlight boosts vitamin D levels in the body, which has been linked to increased levels of testosterone in men and women.
- Higher temperatures: Warmer weather increases blood flow, which can lead to increased sexual arousal. Heat can also cause the body to produce more endorphins, which creates a natural boost in libido.
- Increased physical activity: Summer is typically associated with warmer weather, which means more people frequent the outdoors or engage in physical activity. This can increase blood flow and improve overall health, which contributes to an increased sex drive.
Winter erectile dysfunction: Is it a thing?
ED demonstrates seasonal fluctuations, so it is certainly a thing that winter can worsen erectile dysfunction or see you suffer from its symptoms.
A study even found that internet search queries for the term erectile dysfunction increased significantly in the colder months in the United States, which researchers put down to a surge in winter erectile dysfunction [2].
Testosterone has been shown to reach its lowest point during the winter months, which is why most men experience erectile dysfunction at a higher rate during this time.
Part of this is due to low levels of vitamin D, which is produced by sunlight. With winter's shorter days and darker evenings, it can be harder to get adequate sunlight to boost testosterone.
Vitamin D deficiency also has greater consequences for sexual health. As well as being linked to testosterone, vitamin D helps produce serotonin, which functions as an important hormone in erection and ejaculation.
When vitamin D levels are low, you'll experience loss of erection, difficulty reaching orgasm, and a decrease in your erection's firmness, as well as erectile dysfunction.
5 reasons why cold weather can make ED worse
Now, let's do a bit of a deeper dive into how the cold season can make ED worse:
Psychological stress
The change of seasons can bring mood changes, including psychological stress in the form of increased stress.
Too much stress can see the body release hormones like adrenaline that cause blood vessels to constrict, which further impede blood flow to the penis, making erectile dysfunction worse.
Body image can also exacerbate psychological stress.
When lifestyle changes during winter cause sudden weight gain, it's easy to develop negative body image and self-esteem issues, which contribute to a lack of sexual confidence and performance.
Lifestyle changes
With colder temperatures and fewer hours of daylight, keeping consistent with an exercise routine can feel significantly harder in winter.
Dietary changes are also common during this time, with people more inclined to consume comfort foods that are high in fat and sugar.
These negative lifestyle changes can contribute to weight gain, which is one of the common risk factors for erectile dysfunction.
Lower mood
With the winter months bringing shorter days and longer evenings, it's not uncommon to find yourself feeling somewhat down and a little fatigued.
This has a tremendous impact on your sex drive, with the overall effect being one of decreased libido.
Lower testosterone levels
Studies have shown that men have significantly lower levels of testosterone during winter months compared to those in the summer, despite remaining within the normal range [3].
When you think about our evolutionary ancestors, survival in winter was more difficult. As a result, sex was a far less important activity.
Even in the modern age, this dip in testosterone levels has a significant impact on one's sex drive and may be a factor of erectile dysfunction as it lowers your likelihood of arousal.
Vasoconstriction
Vasoconstriction occurs when veins and arteries throughout the body constrict and move away from the surface of the skin. This can occur for reasons that include:
- Controlling how blood is distributed throughout the body
- Sending more nutrients and oxygen to organs that need them
- Protecting the body against blood and fluid loss
- Reducing loss of body heat in cold temperatures
When the weather turns cold, and the body needs to reduce the loss of body heat, vasoconstriction can occur.
It's why you might find your hands and feet being the coldest part of your body or that your flaccid penis appears smaller when you're cold.
This is because vasoconstriction reduces the blood flow to extremities of the body, like the penis, that are deemed "non-essential" to conserve heat.
During vasoconstriction, the body is ultimately trying to stop blood flow to such areas.
Not surprisingly, erectile dysfunction is more common as pumping blood into your penis to achieve an erection becomes more challenging.
How to address erectile dysfunction in winter
The good news is that regardless of what's causing your erectile dysfunction in winter, it's most likely treatable.
If the issue persists year-round, it's a good idea to speak to your doctor as it may be a symptom of underlying medical conditions.
There are some things you can do to help alleviate symptoms or address erectile dysfunction in winter, though. Consider:
Diet and exercise
Long-term health issues like obesity can contribute to erectile dysfunction, so it's important to engage in positive lifestyle choices like exercising regularly and eating well.
Sunlight
A study in Italy showed that treating certain forms of erectile dysfunction with light therapy led to a tripling of sexual satisfaction, showing just how important sunlight can be when it comes to boosting vitamin D [4].
While you might not be able to get light therapy, aim to get 10-30 minutes of midday sunlight, several times a week.
Keep warm
When vasoconstriction occurs to reduce body heat loss, it's important to keep warm where possible in winter.
Don the layers of clothing and keep the socks on. A study published by researchers at the University of Groningen found that 80% of people were able to successfully achieve an orgasm with socks on, compared to 50% without [5].
Ultimately, erectile dysfunction is common and shouldn't be something you feel you can't talk about for fear of shame or stigma.
Regardless of the season you experience erectile dysfunction, the good news is that help is available to treat any underlying conditions and see you return to normal sexual functioning once again.
If you're looking to address your erectile dysfunction in winter, consider Pilot's ED treatment and Testosterone Support.
Developed by Pilot's team of health practitioners and health coaches, our ED plan includes clinically backed treatments. Simply complete our online assessment and one of our practitioners will review your answers and recommend treatment.
Image credit: Vlada Karpovich / Pexels
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