Delayed Ejaculation – Having Trouble Reaching The Finish Line?

When we think about ejaculatory dysfunction, impaired ejaculation or delayed ejaculation, most people think of premature ejaculation. But we should also consider Delayed Ejaculation (DE).

As the name implies, DE is where men have difficulty reaching climax, or perhaps can’t get there at all. Men are often praised for being able to last longer, but as any man with delayed ejaculation will tell you, they wish that they had premature ejaculation instead. Not only is difficulty climaxing frustrating for men, but many women will feel that there is something they aren’t doing right, which isn’t the case.

DE can be temporary or a lifelong problem. Possible causes of delayed ejaculation include the following:

Delayed ejaculation can result from medications, certain chronic health conditions and surgeries. Or it might be caused by substance misuse or a mental health concern, such as depression, anxiety or stress. In many cases, it is due to a combination of physical and psychological concerns.

Psychological causes of delayed ejaculation include:

• Depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions
• Relationship problems due to stress, poor communication or other concerns
• Anxiety about performance
• Poor body image
• Cultural or religious taboos
• Differences between the reality of sex with a partner and sexual fantasies

Medications and other substances that can cause DE include:

• Some antidepressants
• Certain high blood pressure medications
• Certain diuretics
• Some antipsychotic medications
• Some anti-seizure medications
• Alcohol — particularly drinking too much (excessive alcohol use or alcoholism)

Physical causes of delayed ejaculation include:

• Certain birth defects affecting the male reproductive system
• Injury to the pelvic nerves that control orgasm
• Certain infections, such as a urinary tract infection
• Prostate surgery, such as transurethral resection of the prostate or prostate removal
• Neurological diseases, such as diabetic neuropathy, stroke or nerve damage to the spinal cord
• Hormone-related conditions, such as low thyroid hormone level (hypothyroidism) or low testosterone level (hypogonadism)
• Retrograde ejaculation, a condition in which the semen goes backward into the bladder rather than out of the penis

For some men, a minor physical problem that causes a delay in ejaculation might cause anxiety about ejaculating during a sexual encounter. The resulting anxiety might worsen delayed ejaculation.

Treatment for delayed ejaculation depends on the underlying cause.

Additionally, as men age, the penis will become less sensitive which will make it more difficult to ejaculate. Certain medications can potentially cause DE, such as most SSRI’s and some treatments for lower urinary tract symptoms. Check out this resource if you’re looking for a more in depth explanation of delayed ejaculation.

It’s normal for men to have DE from time to time. Delayed ejaculation is only a problem if it’s ongoing or causes stress for you or your partner.

The good news is that any of the above conditions are relatively easy to treat. Unfortunately, treating them doesn’t always resolve the delayed ejaculation. Although it is a difficult condition to treat, there are treatment options and we have had success in completely resolving some of our patient’s delayed ejaculation.

If you feel that DE is negatively impacting your sex life, just know that you aren’t alone and there is hope in the form of treatment.

We are Men’s Clinic based in Sandton, Johannesburg offering solutions for Early Ejaculation, Weak Erection, Penis Elanrgement and more. For help call us today