They’re taught that arousal equals erection — and that’s often true. But it’s not always true, and when it isn’t, men tend to read it as failure. Real erectile dysfunction is a legitimate medical condition, but a lot of the time, that’s not what’s actually happening. What they don’t realize is that a man’s body isn’t wired to prioritize sex during periods of stress. Here’s what you (and your partner) need to remember:An erection isn’t the same thing as arousal.