staying hard

Many guys have trouble maintaining erections while using condoms. In a recent study of HIV negative Sydney Gay Men³, 44% reported they had trouble of this sort. There was no difference between cut and uncut men. The same men had more condom breakages and slippages. Some strategies that can be useful for anyone having erection problems when using condoms include:

• Practice using condoms on your own. Try using one when you are having a wank. This is also a good way to find the right-sized condom for you.
• Using a cockring (for more information on cockrings, see below)
• Get your partner to put the condom on you. Make it part of having sex.
• Firmly grip the base of your cock when putting the condom on. This helps keep blood in the cock and hence will help keep you hard.
• While thinner condoms are effective at preventing HIV transmission when used properly, they may be more prone to damage from fingernails and jewellery, so extra care should be taken when using them.
• Try using a Polyeurethane condom (these may be difficult to find and maybe more expensive).
• Put a bit of lube on the head of the cock (but not the shaft) or in the teat of the condom before putting on the condom. This will increase sensation.

Apart from condoms, there are many things that can cause problems getting or maintaining a hard-on (Erectile dysfunction). It may be necessary to explore other causes with a doctor, counsellor or sex therapist.

For people with HIV there are a range of issues that may impact on sexual functions. For more information click here. (PDF 205 KB)

cockrings
Many guys find that using a cockring makes it easier to get and maintain a hard-on for longer.

For many men, one of the major impediments to using condoms is that they cause them to lose their erection. Cockrings are an effective, easy and relatively inexpensive way to help you get and maintain a hard-on. Using a cockring won't damage a condom. As a general rule, you should put the cockring on before putting on the condom. Indeed, putting the cockring on after you get an erection may prove very difficult!

Here are some tips on the safe use of cockrings:

• Cockrings come in different sizes, and you need to choose the size that is right for you. Using a cockring that is too small can be dangerous, as it may be difficult to remove, and could damage the tissues of your cock by restricting blood flow for too long. To work out what size is right for you, measure the circumference around the base of your cock, behind your balls, where the cockring would go. Do it when your cock is fully erect. Then divide the result by 3.1 to get the diameter. The table below provides examples.
• If you are an inexperienced user, try using a cockring that is easy to remove, like a leather strap with press-studs, or a rubber ring.
• Do not use a cockring if you bleed easily, have a blood clotting disorder, diabetes or any peripheral vascular or nerve disease.
• Do not use if on anticoagulating medication or aspirin
• Discontinue use if there is any numbness or tingling (pins and needles) - this can indicate circulation problems.
• Remove and discontinue use if there is pain, if your cock begins to feel cold, or if it changes colour. Your cock getting darker means that the blood has become de-oxygenated, you should remove the cockring to allow fresh blood into your cock.
• Don't sleep with one on (on average guys have 5 to 7 erections during sleep).
• The maximum time you should wear a cockring depends on how tight it is and how hard your cock stays. If your erection is constant, and the cockring is tight, you should remove it every 20 or 30 minutes to allow fresh blood to circulate. If your erection has not remained constant, or if the ring is not very tight, it is OK to wear a cockring for longer periods. If you can't get the cockring off, and your cock has been hard for more than 4 hours, you should go to an emergency department at a hospital.

This table provides a guide to proper cockring sizes:

Note: This is an approximate guiding method only. If you fall at one of the limits, or are in doubt, try the larger size first. Back

3. Health in Men Study, 2004. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, AIDS Council of NSW. Back

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