A third condition, prostatitis, flies under the radar even though it affects up to one in six men at some point in their lifetimes. It triggers more than two million visits to doctors and untold agony each year. Prostatitis, which means inflammation of the prostate gland, is an equal opportunity disorder. Unlike prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH , which predominantly affect older men, prostatitis affects men of all ages.

Nor is the inability to have another erection soon after an orgasm. Nearly every man occasionally has trouble getting an erection, and most partners understand that. The problem often develops gradually. One night it may take longer or require more stimulation to get an erection. On another occasion, the erection may not be as firm as usual, or it may end before orgasm.

You don't necessarily have to avoid sex if you have prostatitis — swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland. Typically, sex won't worsen prostatitis. However, some men who have prostatitis experience pain with ejaculation. This can interfere with the enjoyment of sex. Prostatitis is frequently caused by bacterial infections, but it's usually not caused by something that can be passed on to your partner during sex.