5 Early Warning Signs of Erectile Dysfunction and How to Reverse It

Updated: January 2025 | Author: Dr. Nikita Patil | Reviewed by: Dr. Chirag Bhandari (Sexologist & Andrologist)

Are You Ignoring the Early Warning Signs of Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a sensitive topic, but ignoring its early warning signs can lead to worsening symptoms, impacting your confidence, relationships, and overall well-being.

The good news? If caught early, ED can be reversed through lifestyle changes, exercises, and natural remedies. Let’s uncover the key warning signs of ED and explore practical ways to address them.

Before we start, let’s first understand what erectile dysfunction is.

What is Erectile dysfunction (ED)?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual activity. It often develops gradually and can severely affect personal and professional life if left untreated.

The key to reversing ED lies in identifying its early signs and addressing them promptly.

5 Early Warning Signs of Erectile Dysfunction

The easiest way to manage and reverse erectile dysfunction is to identify the first sign of it.
If you see the following early signs of ED, you need to address them in time.

Most importantly, you should know that prolonged Erectile dysfunction leads to Impotence. 

So, it is essential to address them as early as possible. Here are the key warning signs:

1. Trouble Getting an Erection:

When you see that it is hard for you to get an erection, you should know that it is the first symptom of ED. 

Though we do not suggest you stress over it, you should not ignore it at all. 

But at the same time, you should not make hasty conclusions. Instead, you can compare your erection patterns and timings from when you were in your late twenties or early thirties to check.

If you feel that the time and effort required for erection has increased substantially, then Yes, it’s a warning sign, and you should take it seriously.

2. Inability to Maintain an Erection:

Another warning sign of Erectile Dysfunction is that you can get an erection but have trouble maintaining it. Your conditions can become worse when at times, you start losing the erection during the sexual activity.

If this repeatedly happens to you, then indeed, it’s a warning sign of ED.

3. Loss of Desire for Sex:

The desire to have sex is also called libido and your libido can go down due to psychological or biological issues. Biologically, libido is controlled by sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen, as well as neurotransmitters such as dopamine and oxytocin.

Psychologically, feelings of inadequacy, shame, and embarrassment are common in men who have Erectile dysfunctions. When these feelings start to build up, they lower a man’s desire to have sex.

Most of the time, the decrease in the urge to have sex is coupled with trouble in getting an erection and the inability to maintain it, and continuously overlooking these initial signs of ED may result in low libido.

If your urge for sex has reduced drastically, then it’s definitely a warning sign.

4. Loss of Sensitivity in the Penis

It is observed that as many men, as they grow older, it takes more stimulation to obtain an erection.

With growing age, the sensitivity levels of the Penis start decreasing. Moreover, age also impacts hormonal levels, particularly testosterone levels.

The possibility of other medical problems can’t be ruled out with this symptom, particularly when your age is less than 40.

If your age is less than 40 and you are losing sensitivity, Yes, it’s a warning sign.

5. Absence of Morning Erections

Early morning erections are very common in males.

If you are missing these regular erections for a long time, this can be an initial sign of ED that indicates that you will start seeing other symptoms in the coming months and years.

The early morning erections happen as your testosterone level is at its peak in the morning. The increase in testosterone hormone alone is enough to cause an erection, even in the absence of any stimulation.

If you have frequent morning erection is an indicator of good sexual health, and it further indicates that the blood vessels that allow blood to flow to your penis are in good health.

If you notice your morning erections are unusual for a very long time, then Yes, it’s a warning sign of erectile dysfunction.

But what should do if you notice one or more of these early signs of erectile dysfunction?

What Should You Do to Reverse Early-Stage Erectile Dysfunction?

There are many causes of ED, including:

• Blood Flow Issues
• Hormonal Imbalances
• Psychological Stress
• Lifestyle Factors

The only way to determine it is to consult a doctor.

However, if you have recently started observing one or more of these symptoms, you should check whether these are random or temporary issues before you approach a doctor for a thorough evaluation.

Fortunately, these early signs of erectile dysfunction can be easily managed by improving your lifestyle, doing some exercises regularly, and adding supplements to your diet.

5 Easy Ways to Reverse Early-Stage ED

Specific exercises help increase the blood flow in the abdominal area and in private parts and reverse early-stage erectile dysfunction.

Following are the exercises and lifestyle changes you can easily try at home. These measures are absolutely healthy without any side effects.

1. Basic kegel exercise:

Kegel exercises improve the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. It helps to strengthen the bulbocavernosus muscle (the area between the anus and the genitals.).

These important muscles have three functions:

• It enables the penis to fill with blood, causing an erection 
• It pumps during ejaculation, 
• It helps empty the urethra after urination.

The best method for locating the muscles of the pelvic floor (the lower pelvis) is to stop your urine stream several times in the middle of urination. The muscles you clench to do this are the ones you need to exercise.

To perform a round of Kegel exercises, squeeze these muscles, hold for five seconds, and then relax. Repeat this ten times in one set initially and then slowly increase it up to twenty times. You should do it at least three times a day. 

You should try to do the sets in different positions, such as lying down with your knees up, sitting in a chair, and standing.

Once you are able to comfortably do this twenty times in a set, add the next level as well which is to squeeze the muscles of your anus like you are holding a bowel movement. Inhale the breath and then hold for 5 Seconds and then relax the muscle and exhale. Slowly Increase this squeeze and hold for up to 10 seconds. 

Within thirty to forty-five days, you will be able to do both exercises at least three to four times a day which is sufficient enough to upgrade and maintain the strength of pelvic floor muscles.

2. Yoga Asanas

A few Yoga Asanas (exercises/positions) are really very helpful to stimulate the pelvic muscle and increase the blood flow in the abdominal and pelvic area. 

Following yoga poses are some of the best ones to reverse erectile dysfunction.

a. Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)

To do Paschimottanasana:

• Sit with your legs extended.
• Inhale, reach up.
• Exhale, bend forward from hips.
• Hold your toes or ankles.
• Keep your back straight.
• Breathe deeply for a few breaths.
• Release and come back up.

b. Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)

To do Uttanasana:

• Stand with feet hip-width apart.
• Exhale, bend forward at hips.
• Hands to the floor or legs.
• Keep your legs straight.
• Hold for a few breaths.
• Inhale and come back up.

c. Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose)

To do Baddha Konasana:

• Sit with legs bent, and soles together.
• Hold feet, and heels close to the groin.
• Press your knees towards the floor.
• Lengthen your spine.
• Hold for a few breaths.

d. Janu Sirsasana (Head-to-Knee Forward Bend)

To do Janu Sirsasana:

• Sit with one leg extended.
• Bend the other leg, sole against the inner thigh.
• Inhale, reach up.
• Exhale, and bend forward.
• Hold the foot or calf.
• Keep your back straight.
• Breathe deeply for a few breaths.
• Inhale and come back up

e. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

To do Dhanurasana:

• Lie on your stomach.
• Bend your knees, and reach back.
• Hold your ankles.
• Inhale, lift your chest and legs.
• Balance on your abdomen.
• Hold for a few breaths.
• Release and lower down.

f. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

To do Bhujangasana:

• Lie on your stomach.
• Place palms near shoulders.
• Inhale, and lift your chest off the ground.
• Keep hips and legs down.
• Hold for a few breaths.
• Exhale and lower down.

3. Exercise for strengthening abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor

a. Bridge

To do Bridge Pose:

• Lie on your back with your knees bent.
• Feet hip-width apart, arms by your sides.
• Inhale, lift your hips off the ground.
• Push through your feet and shoulders.
• Keep your neck and head relaxed.
• Hold for a few breaths.
• Exhale, lower your hips down.

b. Squat

To do Squat Pose:

• Stand with feet hip-width apart.
• Bend your knees and lower your body.
• Keep your back straight.
• Place your hands in front of your chest.
• Balance on your toes.
• Hold for a few breaths.
• Stand up to release.

c. Hollow Hold

To do Hollow Hold Pose:

• Lie on your back.
• Lift your head, shoulders, arms, and legs off the ground.
• Keep your lower back on the floor.
• Balance on your tailbone.
• Hold for a few breaths.
• Lower back down to release.

You can do these poses in the morning and even in the evening.  Start with 5 rounds of each pose in a set. After 7 days, repeat the whole sequence twice, and after a month increase the rounds slowly from 5 to 10 and then up to 20. Repeat the whole sequence two times.

By doing both the kegel exercises and the yoga poses for 45 days, your pelvic muscles would be sufficiently stimulated. However, you should keep on doing these exercises as this will help you to maintain the regained strength.

4. Natural Supplements

There are a few Ayurvedic supplements that improve different aspects of sexual wellness. These supplements include Ashwagandha, Safed Musli, Kaunch Beej, Gokhru powder, and Shatavari. 

These supplements are natural and don’t have any side effects.

You can find more details about these supplements by visiting the Regain Maxx Capsule page.

5. Stop smoking

Smoking impacts blood circulation in many ways, leading to a host of related health problems including heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and erectile dysfunction.

An erection occurs when blood vessels in the penis enlarge and fill with blood. Smoking disrupts blood vessels in the pelvic area of the body. The vessels of the Penis are also impacted by smoking and start damaging with increased frequency. 

In fact, smoking is capable of causing erectile dysfunction in men as young as 20. 

You need to support Kegel exercises and Yoga positions by quitting smoking, otherwise, the positive impact generated by the exercises will be neutralized by smoking. 

6. Reduce or stop alcohol intake

Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system. It creates a sedating effect on the brain and body. Though alcohol relaxes and gives you a feeling of warmth, it also brings negative brings a lack of inhibition, and a decline in motor skills. 

This effect is also called whiskey dick where a person is not able to get an erection after heavy boozing.  

In the case of whiskey dick, alcohol affects some of the critical systems involved in sexual arousal, erection, blood circulation, and nerve sensitivity.

Alcohol has an interesting and contrasting relationship with ED. When you take 1–2 drinks per day, alcohol may actually help you to get a better erection. 

This is believed to be due to alcohol’s ability to decrease performance anxiety and increase sexual desire. However, heavy drinking leads to a loss of penis nerve sensitivity, lower libido, sexual dysfunction, and other similar effects.

The best way to prevent alcohol induce changes is to avoid heavy drinking and avoid drinking when you are doing Kegel exercises and yoga poses.

The Way Forward

If these exercises and lifestyle changes don’t give results in three months, you need to visit an andrologist for thorough clinical evaluations. 

You can interact with a doctor online whereby you can have a video call with the doctor and the doctor can suggest the forward path. 

If you have a very long history of erectile dysfunction, you may need to explore some advanced therapies like stem cell therapy. 

If you need any help in organizing a consultation with an ayurvedic doctor, andrologist, or stem cell therapist, you can get in touch with us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized recommendations regarding ED.