Current DSM – 5 Diagnosis called Delayed Ejaculation
What is Delayed Ejaculation?
Delayed ejaculation or ‘impaired ejaculation’ is a common medical diagnosis that requires you have a delayed ejaculation or absence of ejaculation during almost all or all (approximately 75 – 100%) of partnered sexual activity without the individual desiring delay; symptoms must have a minimum duration of about six months. In literal terms, a man afflicted with delayed ejaculation cannot ejaculate semen even with a normal erection or takes 30 minutes or longer to achieve an orgasm. Some men experience delayed ejaculation after intervals, while others have to live with this issue throughout their life.
While delayed ejaculation does not present any serious health risks, it does cause much stress amongst patients. Furthermore, it can lead to many problems in a person’s relationship that has the potential to create relational distress.
What Causes Delayed Ejaculation?
Both psychological and physical issues can cause delays in ejaculation; however, psychological factors are the most common reason why men develop this condition.
Psychological factors
The most common psychological factors that might cause delayed ejaculation in men are the following;
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Childhood issues (such as trauma, neglect, unexpressed anger and behavioral issues, bonding difficulties, negative or suppressed sexual upbringing)
- Attitude issues such as a loss of confidence, negative body image, or performance anxiety
- Religious beliefs that label sexual activity for pleasure or for any other reason other than for reproduction as a sin
- Fear of ejaculation, female genitalia, pregnancy, or an inexplicit fear of defiling and hurting one’s partner through coitus or ejaculation
These issues might arise in combination with other factors (act as an underlying factor), or might be the sole cause of this condition.
Physical factors
There are a number of physical factors, along with other issues as well that might lead to delayed ejaculation.
- The side effect of different types of medication (such as that of antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, antipsychotics, and high blood pressure medication, painkillers)
- Use of particular recreational drugs or consumption of alcohol
- Nerve damage due to strokes, diabetes, heart disease, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and surgery (particularly prostrate surgeries)
- A birth defect that impairs ejaculation
- Heart disease that might affect blood flow and pressure in the pelvic region
- Prostrate or urinary infections
- Low thyroid hormone and testosterone levels
- Decrease in sexual arousal due to aging
- Issues with the technique of sexual intercourse or having trouble replicating the feel or speed if masturbation resulting in dissatisfaction or issues with arousal
How Can It Be Diagnosed?
The most common course of action to diagnose delayed ejaculation is to find out the patient’s symptoms and complaints and conduct a physical exam with a medical doctor. To identify the presence of any underlying issue or to eliminate possible causes, some tests need to be ran. Urine tests and blood tests are the ones doctors commonly prescribe. Other possible tests might include those for hormonal imbalance, infections, penis activity, and maybe a psych evaluation.
How Can It Be Treated?
Here at the Counseling Center for Sexual Health (CCSH), we provide in-depth counseling with ASSECT certified sex therapist and proper treatments to help our patients overcome this condition. We understand how stressful this condition can be for the patient in the impact on the relationships, which is why we work on eliminating the cause, so the condition does not recur.
The four main types of treatments that can cure delayed ejaculation, both individually or in combination, as per the diagnosis are:
- Urological treatments for birth defects or pelvic injuries
- Counseling for psychological factors
- Medication
- Alternative treatments
Alternative treatments for delayed ejaculation are uncommon, yet they can be made use of, such as moving towards a healthier lifestyle and diet. While a healthy diet and lifestyle might not directly cure the issue of delayed ejaculation, it can be used to control factors that cause or aggravate the issue such as heart disease.
If you need more information about sexual health or require counseling to help treat a condition, then get in touch with us. You can call us at (805) 308-9800, or leave us a message on our website.