If you struggle with erectile dysfunction, you may have heard that the sauna can help. It’s true that saunas are great for a lot of things, but could erectile dysfunction really be one of them?
The sauna is good for erectile dysfunction (ED). Saunas reduce stress, which is a leading cause of erectile dysfunction. They also improve blood flow, and erectile dysfunction occurs when there isn’t enough blood flow. Between these two things, saunas can definitely come in handy when trying to treat ED without medical intervention.
Read on to learn all about erectile dysfunction and how the sauna can play a part in treating it!
What causes erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction has a surprisingly long list of potential causes. Let’s talk about some of them.
There are many causes of erectile dysfunction, including high cholesterol or blood pressure, obesity, tobacco use, substance abuse, sleep disorders, low testosterone, and more. Mental health conditions or relationship stress can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Some causes of erectile dysfunction include:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Tobacco use
- Substance abuse
- Sleep disorders
- Low testosterone
- Mental health conditions
- Relationship stress
Erectile dysfunction can cause relationship stress too, creating a vicious cycle.
Symptoms of erectile dysfunction include:
- Having trouble developing an erection
- Having trouble maintaining an erection
- A reduction in sexual desire
Erectile dysfunction may be caused by, or be a sign of, underlying conditions. See your doctor if you have other symptoms along with your erectile dysfunction, if you have underlying conditions, or if you’re just concerned in general.
How is erectile dysfunction related to blood flow?
Since erections are a result of increased blood in the area causing swelling of the penis, it makes sense that erectile dysfunction is related to blood flow.
Erectile dysfunction is directly related to blood flow. To cause an erection, blood needs to travel from the heart and through the belly to reach the penis. Erectile dysfunction may indicate that some of those blood vessels aren’t working perfectly.
One of the main reasons Erectile dysfunction may be a sign of an underlying condition is because of its direct relationship to healthy blood flow.
You might just need a little exercise or time in the sauna to get that blood pumping, but it’s important to be honest with your doctor about your situation in case they want to run some tests.
Does sauna increase blood flow?
The good news is that the cardiovascular benefits of saunas are well-studied!
The sauna increases blood flow and is great for heart health in general. This increase in cardiovascular circulation can lower blood pressure. In the long run, it can reduce cardiovascular mortality rates by up to 50%!
The sauna absolutely increases blood flow, similar to the increase you would see from moderate cardio exercise. Since erectile dysfunction is partially caused by a lack of blood flow, we might be onto something!
Incredibly, a large European study found that men who visited the sauna 2-3 times a week reduced their cardiovascular mortality rates by around 30%. Meanwhile, men who did so four or more times a week reduced their risk by about 50%!
Clearly, cardiovascular health is important on all fronts.
Can the sauna help with erectile dysfunction?
Now that we’ve established that regular sauna sessions are helpful for your overall health, let’s look at the topic at hand. Will time in the sauna actually cure ED?
The sauna can help with erectile dysfunction. This is because erectile dysfunction is often caused by stress, and the sauna reduces stress. In addition, some treatments for erectile dysfunction include exercise, and the sauna mimics moderate exercise. Just be sure to stay hydrated, as dehydration can make erectile dysfunction worse.
Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to keep an erection that’s firm enough for intercourse.
Erectile dysfunction is normal on occasion. But if it’s a continuous problem it can cause stress within your relationship, lower your self-confidence, and more.
Even worse, erectile dysfunction may even be a sign of underlying health problems.
Your treatment options depend on how severe your erectile dysfunction is, along with if it’s being caused by an underlying health condition.
Some treatments for erectile dysfunction include:
- Oral medication
- Self-injection medication
- Urethral suppository
- Testosterone replacement
- Penis pumps
- Penile implants
- Exercise
- Counseling
The sauna can help erectile dysfunction because it mimics exercise and reduces stress.
In addition, if your erectile dysfunction is caused by obesity, the sauna can help you lose weight but it will take time.
Does heat worsen erectile dysfunction?
Since saunas are hot, it’s important to consider whether that would make erectile dysfunction worse.
People experience erectile dysfunction more often on hot days due to dehydration. Dehydration can narrow your blood vessels, lessening the amount of blood that reaches the penis. If you remain hydrated, heat will not worsen erectile dysfunction.
Heat itself doesn’t make erectile dysfunction worse, but if you let yourself get dehydrated then the dehydration will make your erectile dysfunction worse.
Does sweating help with erectile dysfunction or improve blood flow?
Saunas sure do make you sweat!
Sweating improves blood circulation. While it’s unclear if sweating itself helps with erectile dysfunction, breaking a sweat by exercising certainly does.
For a double-whammy, hop in the sauna after your workout.
Is steam good for erectile dysfunction?
Steam rooms have a humidity of 100%. How does this relate to erectile dysfunction?
Steam may be good for erectile dysfunction. Lingam is the practice of sitting over steaming water mixed with medicinal herbs, and can supposedly improve sexual performance. Keep in mind that no studies have been conducted regarding this claim.
Lingam supposedly helps to soften pelvic muscles, increase circulation, and cleanse the pelvic bowl.
Which type of sauna is best for erectile dysfunction?
Now let’s narrow down the best kind of sauna for erectile dysfunction.
Steam rooms are the best kind of sauna for erectile dysfunction because steam may enhance sexual performance.
Because the practice of lingam is believed to help enhance sexual performance, it’s worth choosing a steam room when picking a sauna for erectile dysfunction.
Traditional dry sauna and erectile dysfunction
If you’re going to use a traditional dry sauna for erectile dysfunction, how should you go about it?
To use a traditional dry sauna for erectile dysfunction, it’s best to go three times a week with 15-minute sessions. Start out with five minutes and build from there. Never stay in for longer than 20 minutes to avoid dehydration and more.
Remember how you could work out and then hop in the sauna to really increase circulation? There are even more perks to doing so. Saunas increase your hGH, helping you recover faster.
If you want to get as many benefits from your sauna experience as possible, it’s important to break a sweat. Sweating in the sauna has the ability to remove arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury from your body!
Infrared sauna and erectile dysfunction
Infrared saunas are a relatively new development when it comes to saunas and have taken the world by storm.
To use an infrared sauna for erectile dysfunction, it’s best to go three times a week for 30-minute sessions. Start out with five minutes at a time and build from there. Never stay in for longer than 45 minutes to avoid dehydration and more.
Infrared saunas can reduce stress, increase metabolism, and regulate blood circulation.
Infrared saunas heat the inside of your body rather than warming you up by heating the air around you. This may make it more bearable and enjoyable for some sauna-goers.
Infrared saunas can help you lose weight and are great for detoxification. You tend to burn as much as 50% more calories while in the sauna compared to while at rest.
Steam rooms and erectile dysfunction
As we’ve established, steam rooms are the best type of sauna for helping with ED.
To use a steam room for erectile dysfunction, it’s best to go three times a week with 15-minute sessions. Start out with five minutes at a time and build from there. Never stay in for longer than 20 minutes to avoid dehydration and more.
Beyond being the top pick of saunas for helping erectile dysfunction, steam rooms are also the sauna of choice for those recovering from workouts. Moist heat is better at minimizing the effects of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness.