According to Doctor Tra Anh Duy, Specialist Level 2, from the Men's Health Center, extended holidays provide couples with more time together, but disrupted routines can impact men's sexual responsiveness.

Instead of rushing to work in the morning and being exhausted by work in the evening, many men use holidays to travel, socialize, and party. Days might involve hundreds of kilometers of travel, followed by long meals, alcohol, and late nights. When couples finally have private time, a man may still have desire, but his body might not respond as expected, leading to worries like, "Am I starting to lose my virility?"

Doctor Duy notes that a few instances of difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection during a holiday are insufficient to conclude that a man has erectile dysfunction. Many cases are temporary reactions to the body undergoing too many changes in a short period.

Lack of sleep, fatigue, overeating, heavy alcohol consumption, and insufficient physical activity can collectively impact sexual responsiveness. A study published in JAMA indicated a link between sleep deprivation, testosterone levels, and erectile function, although the degree of impact varies among individuals.

Alcohol may make men feel more excited and confident, but this does not mean improved erectile ability. An erection depends simultaneously on the nervous system, blood vessels, hormones, and psychological state.

Illustrative image created by AI

Doctor Duy once treated a man in his 30s who had previously experienced normal sexual activity. However, after a few days of holiday, he began struggling to maintain an erection. This individual slept only 4-5 hours each night, traveled extensively, and frequently consumed beer.

Further inquiry revealed he still had morning erections, had normal sexual activity before the holiday, and showed no significant abnormalities during examination. His condition stabilized after he returned to his regular sleep, eating, and exercise routine.

Doctor Duy explains that after one instance of difficulty, men often become anxious about subsequent attempts. Constantly checking "can I get an erection today?" can create additional pressure, leading to a recurrence of the problem.

Therefore, after an exhausting holiday, men should not rush to seek sexual enhancement drugs. Instead, they should prioritize getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol, staying hydrated, avoiding overeating, and allowing time to recover from long journeys. If erectile difficulties persist for several weeks after returning to a normal routine, are accompanied by reduced morning erections, or decreased libido, it is advisable to consult an andrologist to identify the underlying cause.

Le Phuong