"It's just not what it used to be."
Men usually say it quietly, often at the very end of a visit with one hand on the doorknob. They mean their erections. They figure it's age, or stress, or one too many drinks, and they'd rather not make a big deal of it.
I want you to make a big deal of it. Your erections tell you a lot about your health, and sometimes they tell you before anything else does.
Quick summary: what you need to know
- Erections are a health signal. They need your blood vessels, your hormones, and your nerves all working together.
- Changes can show up before heart symptoms. The arteries in the penis are smaller than the ones around the heart, so trouble with blood flow often shows there first.
- FirmTech rings help in two ways. Worn during sex, they help keep erections firmer for longer. Worn overnight, the TechRing measures your nighttime erections while you sleep.
- We carry FirmTech at AgeWell. It's one tool in a bigger plan for your sexual health, your heart, and your hormones.
Why do erections say so much about my health?
An erection happens only when three systems work at the same time. Your blood vessels have to fill and hold. Your hormones, testosterone especially, drive desire and nighttime erections. Your nerves carry the signal, and stress, sleep, and blood sugar all affect them.
When something changes in any of those three, your erections often change too. That's why I never think of erectile changes as only a bedroom problem. You can't silo the body.
Can erectile changes really be an early sign of heart disease?
Yes, they can. The arteries that supply the penis are much smaller than the arteries that supply the heart. When plaque starts narrowing blood vessels, the small ones feel it first. So a man may notice softer or shorter erections years before he ever has chest pain or a heart scare.
Plenty of men have come to my office with a sexual health concern and no idea they had heart disease. With one look at their labs, they realized their erections had been telling them something more important about their health all along.
One man put it best: "Who knew my erectile issues would save my life?" Heart disease wasn't even on his radar.
After all, heart disease is the number one killer of men in the United States. If your body is giving you an early warning, I want you to hear it. Who knew erections could save your life?
A change in your erections doesn't mean you have heart disease. It means the change deserves a closer look at your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, and sleep.
What are nighttime erections, and why do they matter?
Healthy men usually have several erections a night during sleep, often three to five. They happen without arousal, so they give a clean read on how your blood vessels, hormones, and nerves are doing.
Measuring them used to mean a night or two in a sleep lab. Now the TechRing can do it at home, every night you wear it, so you see trends over time.
What is FirmTech?
FirmTech was founded by a physician, Elliot Justin, MD, and makes wearable rings for men, designed with leading urologists. The ring sits around the base of the penis and the testicles and applies gentle, even pressure. That helps keep blood where it needs to be, so erections are firmer and last longer while you wear it.
There are no pills to take and no prescription needed. The rings are made of soft, medical-grade material, free of latex and phthalates, and one size fits most men.
FirmTech describes the TechRing as FDA registered and clinically proven. It has been studied by urologists at centers including Baylor College of Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering, with research published in peer-reviewed journals and more than 20 studies underway.
Which FirmTech rings does AgeWell carry?
We carry two in our Amarillo office:
- The TechRing helps your performance and measures it. It records firmness, duration, and nighttime erections, and a phone app turns that into a score you can follow over time.
- The Performance Ring is FirmTech's original ring, made for comfortable everyday wear during sex. It doesn't track anything.
Our gift to you. If you'd like to try one, or you're just curious, we'd love to share our gift: use the code AGEWELL at checkout on FirmTech's website for a discount on any FirmTech ring, including the snugger MaxPR. You're also welcome to stop by and pick one up in our office.
AgeWell may earn a commission when you use our code.
Can I wear it at night and during sex?
Yes, and many men don't realize it. There are two ways to wear a FirmTech ring, and you can use both.
During sex. Every FirmTech ring works while you wear it. Put it on before, and it helps keep erections firmer and lasting longer, start to finish.
Overnight. The TechRing is comfortable to sleep in. While you sleep, it measures your nighttime erections, the clean signal I described above.
One of my patients had slept in his TechRing and still had it on the next morning when he had sex. He'd always thought his orgasms were good. That morning, he told me, they were so much better, and now he wears it for sex whenever he can. That's his experience, and not every man will notice the same thing, but it's a good reason to try it both ways.
How does the TechRing help me improve?
The app shows how your score moves with sleep, alcohol, exercise, stress, diet, and medication. Most men have no idea whether the change they made last month did anything. Now you can see it.
Your symptoms are data, and this gives you more of it. If you're a patient, bring your numbers to your next visit. It gives you and your provider something real to work with.
Can I use FirmTech with ED medication or other treatments?
Many men do, and FirmTech has studied its ring alongside ED medication. Talk with your provider about how it fits with your plan.
At AgeWell, FirmTech is part of how we approach sexual health, and it works alongside the other options we offer. Depending on what's driving the change, that might include GAINSWave® For Him, the P-Shot®, testosterone therapy when it's right for you, and the metabolic work that protects your blood vessels for the long run. Our Sexual Health & Performance Program includes an at-home device, so the work continues between visits. To learn more about blood flow, read nitric oxide, blood flow, and erectile health.
How long can I wear it?
FirmTech says the TechRing and the Performance Ring can be worn for up to 12 hours, and the MaxPR for up to 90 minutes. Follow the instructions that come with your ring.
The TechRing doesn't replace seeing a doctor. It gives you and your doctor real data to talk about. If your numbers change, that's a reason to check in.
What if my partner is the one who noticed?
That happens a lot. Partners often notice first, and they sometimes take it personally. When erections change, it's easy to believe it means less desire or less attraction. Very often the cause is physical, and it's worth understanding together.
FirmTech ships in a plain, unmarked box, so it can be a thoughtful gift from a partner who wants to help. Couples are welcome at AgeWell too. Sexual health is health, for both of you, and these conversations are normal here.
What should I do first?
Notice what's changed and when it started. Then get the whole picture. At AgeWell, a physician-led midlife medicine practice in Amarillo, Texas, we look at your heart risk, your hormones, your metabolism, and your sexual health together, because they're connected.
You can start with the Foundational Assessment, visit our sexual health page, or download our free guide, Which Sexual Health Treatment Fits? To see FirmTech in person, ask us at your next visit.
Frequently asked questions
Does ED mean I have heart disease?
Not always. It can be an early sign, so it's worth having your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and other heart risks checked.
Do I need a prescription for FirmTech?
No. FirmTech rings are drug-free and don't need a prescription.
Can I wear the TechRing to bed?
Yes. It's designed to be worn overnight, and that's how it measures your nighttime erections.
Is my data private?
FirmTech says your data is stored securely, follows HIPAA standards, and is never sold.
Can I buy FirmTech at AgeWell?
Yes. We carry the TechRing and the Performance Ring in our Amarillo office. You can also order any FirmTech ring online with our gift code, AGEWELL.
Is it covered by insurance?
AgeWell is cash-pay. Many people check HSA or FSA eligibility with their plan administrator.
Sources
- FirmTech: The Science and Clinical Studies
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Men and Heart Disease
- Cleveland Clinic: Erectile Dysfunction
- Mayo Clinic: Erectile dysfunction: A sign of heart disease?
See if AgeWell is right for you
This article is for education and isn't a substitute for personalized medical advice. Talk with your clinician about your own situation. If you have severe or urgent symptoms, seek emergency care.
