Find out the sexual health problem 4 per cent of men face but no one talks about
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Disclaimer: This article cannot be considered medical advice. Remember to consult your doctor before taking any medications or starting new regimens.
That old stigma surrounding men’s sexual health has begun to lift in recent years, with more and more men feeling empowered to talk to their doctor about the issues they’re facing behind the bedroom door.
Erectile dysfunction (ED), for example, is a relatively common problem that affects more than 18 per cent of men 20 years and older. Viagra and Cialis are just two medicines offered that can easily solve it when it occurs.
But as we learn more about men’s sexual health, there's another issue that millions of men suffer from in silence that appears to be much less of a topic of conversation.
The condition is known as delayed ejaculation (DE), which happens when a man takes too long to reach orgasm, whether through intercourse or masturbation.
'Men with DE report less coital activity, higher levels of relationship distress, sexual dissatisfaction, lower arousal, anxiety about their sexual performance and general health issues when compared to sexually functional men,' said Dr Juza Chen, a urologist from Tel-Aviv University.
The condition, according to sexual health experts, is said to be the least studied dysfunction among all sexual dysfunctions males experience.
It is estimated that at least 4 to 10 per cent of men worldwide experience the poorly understood condition.
As the condition is barely studied, there are currently no set criteria for evaluating a man complaining of DE as everyone’s idea of a 'normal' amount of time for ejaculation is different.
However, 25 to 30 minutes of trying to reach orgasm is typically the threshold psychiatrists use to measure and diagnose DE.
Delayed ejaculation can also make a serious dent in a man’s self-confidence, and it can create tension between a man and his partner, who is likely trying to understand why finishing takes so long.
'The psychological and relational impact of DE is often significant in that it typically results in a lack of sexual satisfaction for both the man and his partner,' Dr Chen said in 2016.
That same year, researchers in the US and the Netherlands said: 'Like men with other sexual dysfunctions, men with [delayed ejaculation] expressed lower relationship satisfaction than controls and elevated levels of fear of failure in sexual situations, indicating a significant amount of bother or distress by their condition.'
Based on the little evidence available on the causes of the condition, sexual heath experts said that it might be caused by childhood trauma and attitudes of shame and anxiety around sex.
According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2023, out of 3,000 surveyed males, 45 per cent claimed general anxiety caused their DE, while 34 per cent attributed it to anxiety related to their sexual performance. Following closely behind, 30 per cent of males blamed inadequate penile stimulation.
‘Specifically, anxiety and negative emotions—whether sex-specific or more general distress—received the strongest endorsements from respondents,' the researchers said.
‘The association between anxiety and sexual performance problems has long been known, but we were surprised that it occupied such primacy in the list of reasons for DE symptomology.’
Some males are born with DE. However, it may also develop at some point in a man’s lifetime and may persist for years.
As with erectile dysfunction, the risk for DE also increases with age due to the many age-related changes the body experiences such as naturally declining testosterone levels, weakened pelvic muscles, and deterioration of the nerve function that communicates with the brain and other body parts in the body that causes an erection.
There is also growing evidence that having type 1 diabetes may also increase the risk for ejaculatory issues.
Mental health experts suggest upping the amount of physical and mental stimulation for men with DE during sex.
Treatment might involve a prescription for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (also known as SSRIs, the gold standard treatment for depression and anxiety), as well as hormone therapies like oxytocin (also known as the ‘love hormone') which can enhance an already pleasurable experience, or testosterone in cases where low-T levels are to blame.
Unfortunately, akin to the chicken-or-egg dilemma, men taking antidepressants or SSRIs are also more likely to be living with DE.
If you feel that this applies to you or you’re just looking for more advice with regard to your sexual health, always consult your doctor or other medical experts and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments section below!
That old stigma surrounding men’s sexual health has begun to lift in recent years, with more and more men feeling empowered to talk to their doctor about the issues they’re facing behind the bedroom door.
Erectile dysfunction (ED), for example, is a relatively common problem that affects more than 18 per cent of men 20 years and older. Viagra and Cialis are just two medicines offered that can easily solve it when it occurs.
But as we learn more about men’s sexual health, there's another issue that millions of men suffer from in silence that appears to be much less of a topic of conversation.
The condition is known as delayed ejaculation (DE), which happens when a man takes too long to reach orgasm, whether through intercourse or masturbation.
'Men with DE report less coital activity, higher levels of relationship distress, sexual dissatisfaction, lower arousal, anxiety about their sexual performance and general health issues when compared to sexually functional men,' said Dr Juza Chen, a urologist from Tel-Aviv University.
Around 4 per cent of men suffer from a condition called delayed ejaculation (DE). Image source: jcomp on Freepik.
The condition, according to sexual health experts, is said to be the least studied dysfunction among all sexual dysfunctions males experience.
It is estimated that at least 4 to 10 per cent of men worldwide experience the poorly understood condition.
As the condition is barely studied, there are currently no set criteria for evaluating a man complaining of DE as everyone’s idea of a 'normal' amount of time for ejaculation is different.
However, 25 to 30 minutes of trying to reach orgasm is typically the threshold psychiatrists use to measure and diagnose DE.
Delayed ejaculation can also make a serious dent in a man’s self-confidence, and it can create tension between a man and his partner, who is likely trying to understand why finishing takes so long.
'The psychological and relational impact of DE is often significant in that it typically results in a lack of sexual satisfaction for both the man and his partner,' Dr Chen said in 2016.
That same year, researchers in the US and the Netherlands said: 'Like men with other sexual dysfunctions, men with [delayed ejaculation] expressed lower relationship satisfaction than controls and elevated levels of fear of failure in sexual situations, indicating a significant amount of bother or distress by their condition.'
Based on the little evidence available on the causes of the condition, sexual heath experts said that it might be caused by childhood trauma and attitudes of shame and anxiety around sex.
According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2023, out of 3,000 surveyed males, 45 per cent claimed general anxiety caused their DE, while 34 per cent attributed it to anxiety related to their sexual performance. Following closely behind, 30 per cent of males blamed inadequate penile stimulation.
‘Specifically, anxiety and negative emotions—whether sex-specific or more general distress—received the strongest endorsements from respondents,' the researchers said.
‘The association between anxiety and sexual performance problems has long been known, but we were surprised that it occupied such primacy in the list of reasons for DE symptomology.’
Some males are born with DE. However, it may also develop at some point in a man’s lifetime and may persist for years.
As with erectile dysfunction, the risk for DE also increases with age due to the many age-related changes the body experiences such as naturally declining testosterone levels, weakened pelvic muscles, and deterioration of the nerve function that communicates with the brain and other body parts in the body that causes an erection.
There is also growing evidence that having type 1 diabetes may also increase the risk for ejaculatory issues.
Mental health experts suggest upping the amount of physical and mental stimulation for men with DE during sex.
Treatment might involve a prescription for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (also known as SSRIs, the gold standard treatment for depression and anxiety), as well as hormone therapies like oxytocin (also known as the ‘love hormone') which can enhance an already pleasurable experience, or testosterone in cases where low-T levels are to blame.
Unfortunately, akin to the chicken-or-egg dilemma, men taking antidepressants or SSRIs are also more likely to be living with DE.
If you feel that this applies to you or you’re just looking for more advice with regard to your sexual health, always consult your doctor or other medical experts and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
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