This article is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Please consult your urologist, physician, or health care provider if you have more questions about this topic.

You might be among the many men who find it difficult to maintain an erection for an extended session in bed, but what if your very livelihood depended on it? Unsurprisingly, it's hard (no pun intended) for male pornstars to keep it up sometimes, too. And yet, when you watch porn, there's James Deen on the small screen maintaining a hard-on for what seems like hours on end under pressure. What's his secret?

It turns out there are more than one trick male porn stars use to keep hard through a sex scene, from pills to injections to actual implants...but before we get into the many ways pornstars stay hard for their big scenes, do remember that in part, it's just a show. Impressive, long-lasting erections often aren't practical in the real world. And another word of caution: getting and maintaining hard-ons the "porn star way" can be unhealthy and in some cases, downright dangerous.

Still, safer methods are worth considering to improve your love life and combat common real-world problems like erectile dysfunction. Read on!

How Do Male Porn Stars Stay Hard in Porn Movies?

It is safe to say most male performers experience and suffer from erection problems. It's an entirely unnatural situation - film crews behind the scenes, the pressure to achieve an erection on cue and under the pressure of harsh lights, in front of strangers, and without any real intimacy from their co-star. It's nothing like a conventional sex life! The pressure to perform exceeds everything. Nothing else matters at that moment, not how many followers on social media you have, the mortgage, relationships. It all comes down to one thing - and as you know, hard-ons don't come easy sometimes. That's why male actors in the porn industry have resorted to some nifty methods to ensure they're ready for the moment.

And what do the women who act alongside the men have to say? Female pornstar Kayden Kross is in tune with the goings-on in the adult entertainment world. "Most of our male talent uses some form of medical aid to stay hard... That can be anything from Viagra and Cialis to injections that will keep erections going without arousal. I know others have had surgeries to implant penis pumps," she tells us.

That's quite a range of solutions, some of which are bound to cause their own problems. So let's start with the easy ones first:

Erectile Dysfunction Pills (Cialis, Viagra)

Taking performance-enhancing drugs is one of the more common ways male talent solve erection problems. For example, the drug Cialis is a PDE5 inhibitor, which is a potent vasodilator and erectile dysfunction (ED) drug. This means that the drug promotes blood flow into the penis, et voila, erection. So, even when the male performer isn't feeling it, the drug makes the penis stay erect.

Familiar with the little blue pill? Viagra is pretty common on porn sets, helping male pornstars get through the shoot still standing. This pill also falls in the PDE5 inhibitor class, making it similar to Cialis in its operation.

Despite the effectiveness of these erectile dysfunction drugs, they pose some general body and sexual health problems.

Drawbacks to Using ED Pills

Relying on pills to elicit long-lasting erections can result in a terrible experience, affecting a performer's health and livelihood.

Here are some of the drawbacks:

• Difficulty ejaculating
• Irregular heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Sudden hearing loss
• Stomach upsets
• Sudden vision loss
• Flushed cheeks
• Splitting headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea

One of the most significant drawbacks to using erectile dysfunction medications is a persistent, painful erection known as priapism. Former adult film star Danny Wylde (real name Christopher Zeischegg) ended up in the emergency room suffering from this exact condition when he took more than the medically recommended dosage of Cialis.

Other performers opt for a more fast-acting alternative to ED drugs, namely...

Penile Injection Therapy (Caverject)

Because oral medication takes longer to exert its effect on the male member, some performers in the adult industry resort to penile injection therapy, this involves administering drugs directly into the penile tissue to make it stay hard.

One of the most common medications is Caverject (alprostadil). Another such drug is Trimix, a mixed solution containing alprostadil, papaverine, and phentolamine.

According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, these drugs are injected 5 to 20 minutes before intercourse. The resultant erection usually lasts for up to an hour. And such a time frame can be enough to get in several takes when shooting a porn scene.

Adverse Effects of Penile Injection Therapy

• Bleeding at the site of injection
• A burning sensation throughout the urethra
• Testicular pain
• Reddish hue spreading across the penis
• Swelling and abnormal curving of the member
• Fast heartbeat
• Fainting

With possible side-effects like these, you might think, who needs injections? We agree, but let's look at the final extreme method used in the porn world to keep it up.

Penile Implants

In some extreme cases, a male performer might consistently fail to stay hard during scene shoots. This can mess up production schedules as well as damage an actor's reputation. To keep their standing as reliable professionals, many performers resort to surgery and implants.

Even when the man with an implant installed faces difficulties staying hard, the device provides structural rigidity to his member. Consequently, male pornstars can endure hours shooting a long scene because their dick can't become flaccid despite reduced sexual arousal.

Complications Associated With Penile Implants in Porn Male Talent

Just like using pills or injections, guys using implants to get through a scene are likely to face some undesirable medical conditions. These include:

• Infection in the dick after surgery
• Excessive bleeding post-surgery
• Persistent pain for 2 to 3 months after the operation
• Malfunction of the implant
• Formation of scar tissue
• Considerable injury to surrounding organs like the urinary bladder and colon

If the porn star life has lost a little bit of its glamour after reading that list of possible side effects, we don't blame you. How about we look at some healthy alternatives you have if you want to stay hard for hours.

Healthy Ways to Get Stay Hard Longer

Drugs like Viagra and Cialis plus Caverject might be a sure-fire way to stay erect, but the undesirable health effects can keep some men away. Here are some healthier tips to improve your ability to stay erect for hours.

Keep Fit Through Regular Physical Exercise

Gaining and maintaining fitness through regular physical activity helps your member get hard. This is because it improves circulation, improving blood flow to the pelvic area.

Renowned porn star Aaron Thompson (Small Hands) credits fitness and a good diet for his onscreen success. He exercises daily, gets adequate sleep, and follows a paleo-style diet.

Speaking of diet...

Eat a Balanced, Healthy Diet

You need to watch what you put into your body. Select healthy options that improve your ability to stay hard.

Here are some healthy food choices:

• Watermelon: This fruit contains a substance called L-citrulline, which triggers the release of nitric oxide. This chemical improves blood circulation by widening arteries in the genitals. Many high-quality sexual health supplements for men contain this ingredient.
• Reduce your meat intake: Meat contains trans-fats which can cause heart disease, affecting flow to your member. A report by the Public Health Agency of Canada said that men who had higher fruit and vegetable intake were more likely to overcome ED.
• Ginseng: Traditional Chinese have used this herb to treat impotence for centuries. They contain biochemicals the enhance circulation like L-citrulline.

Cut Back on the Alcohol

Alcohol is a known depressant, reducing your sexual desire. And if you don't have that desire, your member won't stay hard for long. This is the origin of the so-called "Whisky Dick." In addition, alcohol reduces testosterone levels, interferes with blood circulation, and slows brain signals. All this interferes with getting and staying hard. So the bottom line is cutting back on the drinks increases your chances of maintaining an erection.

Do Kegel Exercises

The pelvic floor muscles (PFM) play an essential role in improving erections and maintaining them longer. Also, PFM improves sexual stamina, allowing you to control when you want to ejaculate during sex. Furthermore, strong pelvic floor muscles make sex more enjoyable because they provide more intense orgasms during ejaculation. A professionally-designed Kegel program for men can help you get started.

Try a Cock Ring

By restricting the blood flow out of the shaft, a cock ring promotes a more rigid and prolonged erection for extended sex activities. If possible, avoid the metallic versions because they're less pliable, making it difficult to take them off when you have an erection.

Slow Down on the Porn

When you watch too much porn, you can become desensitized, mentally and physically ruining your real-world expectations. This destroys sensitivity and causes delayed ejaculation. Furthermore, there is a fine line between performance and over-endurance, both for you and your partner.

It comes down to that porn is entertainment; edited pieces are put together to stimulate your mind. Don't ruin your confidence by comparing your ability to porn actors.

In a Nutshell

Porn stars go through some truly challenging ordeals to avoid the specter of too many failed scenes that can ruin a performer's reputation with production companies. Unfortunately, this can drive more than a few porn stars to pills and Caverject because of their quick action, with little regard for the potential adverse health implications.

Still, you don't need to hold yourself to the unrealistic standards of porn stars in the videos to have a little fun with your partner. Instead, stick to the safer and healthier methods to stay erect that we discussed. Your penis will thank you!