What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, or impotence, is a term that’s used when a man has difficulty in having and maintaining an erection strong enough to have penetrative sex. According to the UK’s National Health Service, most men will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their life, and perhaps it could be affecting you. 

It’s understandable that many men don’t want to talk about impotency and erection challenges as it can bring up feelings of frustration, inadequacy, low self-confidence, shame, and guilt.  
 
Rather than reaching for Viagra tablets, which offer a short-term solution, or perhaps hoping that erectile dysfunction will simply go away, it’s worth considering professional tantric massage therapy as a viable option. 
 

How can Tantric Massage Therapy help? 

Tantric healing massage is a unique combination of bodywork, coaching and self-practice exercises, which is offered in a caring and confidential environment. It can help you to regain confidence and enjoy intimacy again. 

Over the past four years of client practice, I’ve seen how tantric massage therapy can help support clients with a range of erectile dysfunction issues. My approach is to identify and address some of the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction (ED), rather than just treating the symptoms. 

There can be physical and / or psychological reasons which can interfere with getting and keeping a healthy erection. So, let’s take a look at these, and I’ll explain how therapeutic tantric massage can help.
 

Tantric Massage for Physiological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction 

When a man becomes aroused, his nervous system is activated and sends signals to the brain to increase the flow of blood to the penis. The sudden influx of blood causes an erection by expanding, lengthening, and stiffening the penis.  

There are a range of physical conditions that can interfere will the arousal mechanism, and therapeutic tantric massage can successfully treat some of them. 
 

Medical Conditions and Erectile Dysfunction 

Before starting treatment for ED, it’s worth having a quick check up with your doctor if you’ve been experiencing difficulties for more than a few weeks. Diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, prostate disease, and some prescription medicines, can play a part in erectile issues. 
 
Surgery, injuries, scarring, chronic pelvic conditions, and certain treatments for cancer can also affect getting and maintaining an erection. 
 

Tension in Muscles and Fascia of Pelvic area and Penis 

Did you know that tension in the muscles and fascia of the pelvic area, including the penis, can affect the blood flow needed for a healthy erection? If you’re into sports, or work out a lot, then you may well have a lot of tension around the genital area.

Therapeutic genital massage is a specialist feature of tantric massage, as most other bodywork modalities completely avoid this area. However, the genitals are no different from any other part of the body, with fascia and muscles that require regular treatment. 

Lingam massage (‘lingam’ is a Sanskrit word for penis) is offered as part of sessions to optimize the blood circulation needed for healthy erections. Tantric and Taoist (ancient Chinese) therapeutic techniques are used to help clear blockages in the flow of blood and lymph. This is particularly important for men as they get older, to help them maintain erectile health. 
 
Therapeutic prostate massage is also a part of tantric treatment for erectile dysfunction, as internal tension can affect the blood circulation needed for a healthy erection. It’s a gentle massage, which helps to remove any build-up of stress, toxins, and emotions, (such as anger and frustration), in the area of the prostate gland, as all of these can affect erectile health. It's also a great way to combat high stress levels, and leaves clients feeling very relaxed afterwards. 
 

Too Tired for Sex 

Being physically exhausted after a stressful day can affect your libido and erection. However, there are simple tantric sexual exercises, (which are given as optional ‘homework’ after sessions), that can boost sexual energy levels, and leave you feeling energised rather than depleted after love-making.  
 
Tantric education is a key part of bodywork sessions, and includes learning about how to activate and harness sexual energy to create and maintain healthy erections. Clients can also learn to bring this vital life-force energy into all parts of their body and become multi-orgasmic, whether they have erectile difficulties, or not. 

 
Tantric Massage for Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction 

For many men, distressing thoughts and emotions play a major part in erectile dysfunction, and this can be more challenging to treat. However, Tantric Healing Therapy helps to address these issues directly through bodywork, rather than just through talking therapy. 
 

Performance Anxiety and Sex 

‘Performance anxiety’ is a particular stress response which brings up negative thoughts and feelings in the run-up to sex. It can interfere with getting aroused and having an erection. Shame about past negative sexual experiences, strict cultural conditioning around sex, and fear of rejection can all create anxiety about being able to get and keep an erection. 

Tantric massage sessions begin with consultation, as many men don’t have a confidential space to talk about the psychological impact of ED in their life. The consultation time is followed by a long sequence of therapeutic bodywork to help identify and re-programme old conditioned patterns and beliefs around sex. Strong emotions may come up, and are given space to be felt and processed in a safe and caring therapeutic environment. 


Stress and Getting an Erection

High levels of stress caused by work, depression, chronic conditions, and relationship difficulties can all play an underlying role in ED. The stress hormone, cortisol, can reduce testosterone levels, and results in a lower libido over time. Cortisol can also restrict the blood vessels in the lingam.

Tantric bodywork sessions include deep relaxing massage to target stress and tension in the body. Different massage techniques are used to activate hormones and endorphins, such as oxytocin and serotonin, which help to break down cortisol in the body. 


Pornography Addiction and Erectile Dysfunction 

Current research hasn’t reached consensus about the effect of watching porn on ED. Some research, however, suggests that excessive viewing can desensitize some men in real-life sexual situations, because fantasy sex is far removed from real intimacy. 
 
I’ve noticed in my client practice that some men who watch a lot of porn have de-sensitization in the genital area, and that their sexual experience is taking place more in the mind than the physical body. These clients can find it challenging to get an erection without visual stimulation.  Touch, awareness, and breathwork techniques are key in helping to reactivate neural pathways in the genital area, and as a result, activate the blood flow needed for a healthy erection. 

 
Sexual Abuse and Physical Violence 

Many men have experienced sexual abuse and physical violence whilst growing up, and during adult life. Sadly, many cases go unreported. Trauma from past sexual abuse and physical violence can often cause pain, numbness, and strong emotions in the genital area, and throughout the body, which can affect being able to get or keep an erection. 
 
'Trauma informed’ tantric healing therapists are able to support men who’ve experienced sexual and physical violence. In situations of extreme trauma, I ask clients to work with a trusted counsellor or psychotherapist to provide additional support whilst receiving tantric sessions. 

 
Addiction Patterns and Impotence 

Lifestyle choices, including the use of recreational drugs and large amounts of alcohol, can affect getting and keeping an erection. Being overweight or obese can also have an impact. 
 
There are many ways that we choose to comfort ourselves in day to day life, including using food and intoxicants. For some clients, therapeutic tantric massage offers a safe space to look at underlying causes of addition patterns, which are often trauma related, and have a big impact on intimacy and relationships. 


Lack of Sexual Confidence  

Many men experience low self-confidence around their sexuality at some point in their life, and this is a key psychological cause of erectile dysfunction. Tantric healing therapy supports men to build and regain sexual confidence in a range of situations, including:

  • rejection by sexual partners 

  • the ending of a long-term relationship 

  • body dysmorphia 

  • sexual inexperience 

  • strong negative cultural conditioning around sex 

  • bereavement 

  • illness and chronic health conditions 
     

Further Information 

For further information about how Tantric Massage sessions can help you with Erectile Dysfunction and other sexual / intimacy issues, and to book a session, please contact me here. I currently offer sessions in London, mainland Europe, and Thailand.