Many men take great pains to ensure their penis health in order to maintain an active sexual life, including the ability to experience an erect penis. Sometimes, when there is dysfunction in the erectile area, it’s possible that anemia may be playing a role in preventing the manhood from functioning correctly.

Explaining anemia

Anemia is one of those words that people hear all the time but may only have a vague understanding of what it means. So what is anemia?

According to the Mayo Clinic, anemia is "a condition in which (one doesn’t) have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues." Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin. This protein takes the oxygen that comes in through the lungs and transports it around the body so that the organs that require oxygen can get the oxygen that they need to function properly.

Guess what one of those organs is? That’s right: the penis. So having a properly-oxygenated penis is crucial.

Causes

There can be any number of causes of anemia, such as:

- Not enough iron. This is the one that most people associate with anemia - iron deficiency. Hemoglobin is made in the bone marrow, and one of the big components in making hemoglobin is iron. So when there’s not enough iron, there’s not enough hemoglobin and therefore not enough oxygen getting taken around the body - and thus there’s anemia.

- Not enough vitamins. Red blood cells also need a certain level of vitamin B12 and of folate in order to function properly. When a body doesn’t get enough of these two ingredients, it produces fewer red blood cells - which means there are fewer "taxis" available to take the oxygen around the body.

- Not enough blood. Iron deficiency and vitamin deficiency are kind "invisible" causes of anemia; loss of blood is present obvious. When a person loses blood - through a bad car accident, say - they are anemic until such time as they are able to replace the blood (usually through a blood transfusion). Because of the acute nature of this cause, it’s not typically associated with erect penis issues; most people who have lost a few pints of blood aren’t going to be in the mood for sex at the moment. (Of course, there are exceptions!)

- Hemolysis. Hemolysis refers to the destruction of red blood cells. This occurs naturally, usually when a red blood cell has reached the end of its useful life. In some people, however, the rate of red blood cell destruction can be too fast.

- Diseases and disorders. Many conditions, such as leukemia, kidney disease, aplastic anemia and sickle cell, can bring about an anemic state.

Erect penis affect

How might anemia affect an erect penis? Because a successful erection depends upon a rapid influx of oxygen-rich blood, the lack of sufficient oxygen can lead to a difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection. This is relatively rare; more common is for a man with anemia to produce an erect penis, but for the erection to not feel as "full" or as "strong," due to the lack of oxygen.

It is also possible that, owing to the fatigue associated with anemia, an anemic man might have less stamina, making him less capable of enduring the exertion associated with vigorous sexual activity.

Working with a doctor to determine the cause of one’s anemia and the proper course of treatment is crucial for overall health, as well as for the specific health of the penis.

Anemia can be an enemy of an erect penis, so it’s vital that the organ’s global health be well maintained. Using a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) is strongly advised. L-arginine is an enzyme that helps produce nitric oxide, which in turns keeps penis blood vessels relaxed and receptive to adequate blood flow, allowing more oxygen to reach the penis. Therefore, a crème that contains this ingredient, along with vitamin C, is a good choice. Why vitamin C? Because of its role in collagen production and in promoting proper penile tissue firmness, by its role as a structural component of blood vessels.