Delayed ejaculation: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Delayed ejaculation is when a man is unable to ejaculate during sexual intercourse, happening more easily during masturbation. The diagnosis of this dysfunction is confirmed when symptoms persist for approximately 6 months and is less frequent than premature ejaculation, which is a dysfunction characterized by ejaculation before or right at the beginning of penetration.

This dysfunction can generate frustration for both men and women, and guidance from a sexologist or psychologist is recommended, for example, so that the situation can be clarified, in addition to guidance from a urologist, as delayed ejaculation can also be related to the obstruction of the sperm channels, for example.

Symptoms of delayed ejaculation

The main symptom of delayed ejaculation is the man’s difficulty in ejaculating during sexual intercourse, which only occurs during masturbation.

Despite there being no ejaculation, the man is able to maintain an erection for longer, prolonging sexual activity, which can cause pain in both women and men due to the loss of natural lubrication, in addition to becoming exhausting and frustrating for both men and women. can cause strain on the relationship, anxiety and depression, for example.

Furthermore, delayed ejaculation can be classified as primary or permanent, when it is present throughout a man’s life, or secondary or transitory, when it appears after a certain age or as a consequence of some situation.

Possible causes

The causes of delayed ejaculation are not yet fully known, but it is believed that it may be related to clinical, cultural and/or psychological factors, such as:

• Obstruction of the channels through which sperm passes, thus preventing ejaculation;
• Diabetes;
• Use of antidepressant medications;
• Excessive alcohol use;
• Use of drugs, such as cocaine, crack and marijuana;
• Psychogenic causes;
• Concerns regarding sexual performance;
• Childhood sexual abuse;
• Religious issues.

As there are several causes associated with this dysfunction, the diagnosis can be made by several medical specialties depending on the cause, such as a psychologist or sex therapist, urologist or endocrinologist, for example.

How the treatment is carried out

The treatment of delayed ejaculation is done by identifying the cause and usually involves therapy, mainly due to the fact that most of the time delayed ejaculation is related to psychological factors. Furthermore, therapy is important due to the consequences that delayed ejaculation can have on the relationship, making couples therapy, for example, interesting in these cases.

It is also important that men maintain healthy habits, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet and avoid smoking, drinking or taking drugs and follow the treatment that may have been recommended by the doctor.