Is this Erectile Dysfunction?

[kazual333]

I'm a 42 year old heterosexual male, previously a long-time cigarette smoker, but still a long-time marijuana smoker and regular drinker. Every partner I have had has complained that my erections are "semi-soft". There is a distinct difference in hardness between erect and not erect for me, but my erections have never been stiff enough to insert into a vagina without the aid of my hand when I am on top. Is this normal? Do I suffer from erectile dysfunction or is this just my regular physiology? Are there non-medical interventions that would aid in achieving a better erection?

[Helper015]

Thank you for posting.  Sometimes calling it erectile dysfunction or ED can be scary or make it seem like a whole new separate disease, but erectile dysfunction basically means one's erection isn't firm enough for vaginal penetration, or that your erections have been worsened in some ways from how they were previously.  Perhaps others want to word that differently, but essentially that is what ED is.  Instead of thinking of it as ED, you could think of how to possibly make your erections harder.  In an "ideal" perfectly functioning erection, the erection should be maintained on its own.  However, some people can not even maintain them with their hand on it, and vaginal intercourse is impossible.  So if it is possible for you, then that is fantastic.  If you want to make your erections harder, there may be ways to do that.