7 Common Sexual Problems in Men

A sexual problem or dysfunction refers to a problem during any phase of a normal sexual activity that prevents an individual from experiencing satisfaction.

Most of us will (or already did) deal with a sexual dysfunction at one point or another, but it doesn’t change the fact we feel insecure and assume we’ll never have great sex ever again. One thing you should know is that sexual problems are manageable, but you have to be proactive.

What are the Common Male Sexual Dysfunctions?

Both men and women deal with certain sexual dysfunctions. This post lists most common problems affecting men.

1. Premature Ejaculation(PE)

Premature ejaculation is a form of a sexual problem that occurs when a man ejaculates sooner than he (or his significant other) would like during the intercourse.

Generally, PE refers to instances when a man always ejaculates or almost always before sexual penetration or within one to three minutes after he penetrated.

According to the study published in the journal Nature^[1], PE is the most common sexual dysfunction in men. The worldwide prevalence of this problem is 30%. Figures show that about 29% of adult men in the US were dealing with PE.

At this point, the underlying cause of PE is unknown. What scientists do know is that psychological and biological causes play a role. In most cases, it is the combination of the two that makes you ejaculate prematurely.

The truth is that male sexual dysfunctions are numerous, it would be impossible to limit them to just one or two problems. Men experience problems with ejaculation, but different disorders have been identified:

• Premature Ejaculation (PE) Uncontrolled ejaculation prior to or right after penetration. Due to the fact PE poses as the most prevalent ejaculation disorder, it’s not uncommon for men to believe this is the only ejaculatory problem out there.
• Premature Ejaculation affects ^[1] 25% to 30% of men, but rates could be even higher mainly because many cases go undiagnosed as affected gentlemen refuse to see their doctor
• Inhibited or Retarded Ejaculation – Ejaculation occurs too slowly and it is the least common form of sexual dysfunction. Basically, it takes an extended period of time for an affected man to achieve sexual climax and ejaculate
• Retrograde Ejaculation – Happens when the ejaculate is forced back into the bladder rather than through urethra and out of the penis

Common causes that contribute to PE are:

• Abnormal hormone levels
• Depression and anxiety
• Early sexual experiences
• Erectile dysfunction
• Inflammation and infection of urethra or prostate
• Negative body image
• Stress
• Worrying about ejaculating prematurely
• Common treatment options^[2] for premature ejaculation include Kegels for men, behavioral techniques, counseling, topical anesthetics, and medications.

2. Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Erectile dysfunction is defined as an inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse.

Estimates show^[3] that more than 18 million men in the US have erectile dysfunction and the problem is increasingly prevalent with age. For instance, at the age of 40, about 40% of men are affected by this common sexual dysfunction.

It is a common misconception that ED means there is something wrong with penis itself and nothing else. Sexual arousal in men is a complicated process that involves hormones, emotions, brain, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves.

Anything that affects those components of male sexual arousal can also contribute to the occurrence of erectile dysfunction. Just like with PE, it is the combination of physical and psychological factors that play the role in most cases.

The most common causes of ED include:

• Alcoholism
• Anxiety and depression
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Injuries or surgeries that affect spinal cord and the pelvic area
• Metabolic syndrome
• Relationship problems
• Stress
• Weak blood flow
• Regular physical activity, medications, quitting smoking, keeping weight in a healthy range is the most common approaches toward the treatment of ED.

Erectile dysfunction is the most prevalent type of sexual dysfunction and it affects men of all ages.

Numbers show^[2] that 52% of men have ED and it is increasingly frequent among younger men which is contrary to the assumption that only older adults have problems with erections.

The inability to achieve or maintain erection stems from diseases or other factors that affect blood flow.

One’s erection depends on healthy circulation where blood rushes to the genital area during arousal. As penile tissues fill in with blood your manhood becomes erected. Any problem that affects a person’s blood flow can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.

Besides physical causes, ED and other sexual dysfunctions can occur due to problems in the relationship, stress, depression, and other factors.

3. Delayed Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is not the only ejaculation-related problem^[5] that affects men. Some gentlemen also deal with delayed or impaired ejaculation, a problem wherein a man needs an extended period of sexual stimulation to reach sexual climax and ejaculate.

While most men experience this problem at some point or another, for others it is a lifelong problem.

This sexual problem may stem from chronic health conditions, medications, and surgeries. Common physical and psychological causes of delayed education include the following:

Anxiety, depression, or some other mental health condition

• Hypothyroidism
• Low testosterone
• Negative body image
• Prostate surgery
• Relationship problems
• Sustaining an injury to the pelvic nerves that control orgasm

You are more likely to deal with this problem if you are a long-term heavy drinker, smoker, and have relationship problems. The risk of delayed ejaculation also increases due to psychological conditions, health conditions such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

The treatment for this form of sexual dysfunction depends on the underlying cause, but it usually includes medications or consulting your doctor about drugs you’re already taking.

Never discontinue taking a drug or change the dosage on your own, without asking anyone. Psychological counseling is also a common alternative treatment measure for this problem.

4. Low Libido

When term sexual dysfunction comes to mind, we immediately think of ED and PE, but they’re not the only ones. As stated above, issues and malfunctions in any aspect of sexual performance belong to the group of male sexual dysfunctions.

Low libido is one of them! Loss of libido or inhibited sexual desire refers to instances when an affected man has no interest in sexual activity. Both physical and psychological causes play a role. Unresolved relationship problems, health issues, low testosterone, are just some of the many causes of low libido.

The term sexual dysfunction doesn’t refer to the intercourse itself only; it describes any problem affecting normal sexual activity. This also includes your libido or sex drive. Libido fluctuates in both men and women as it depends on a number of factors.

Low sex drive can be very frustrating and it has a major impact on a man’s self-esteem and confidence. Addressing the cause of low libido helps solve the problem and increase it. The most common causes^[4] of this sexual problem are:

• Chronic illness
• Depression
• Low testosterone
• Restless legs syndrome
• Sleep problems
• Some medications
• Stress

5. Low Testosterone

Most sex-related problems are strongly associated with fluctuations in testosterone levels. The hormone testosterone is vital for male sexual and reproductive health, but its production declines as you age. Studies show that testosterone levels decline ^[3] by 1% every year after you turn 30.

Although decreased production of this hormone is a normal part of aging, different factors speed up the process. Overweight and obesity, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, exposure to estrogen-like compounds, sleep deprivation, stress, are just some of the many risk factors of low testosterone.

When the concentration of the much-needed hormone declines, men tend to experience multiple symptoms including low libido, infertility, and problems with erections, weight gain, loss of muscle mass, and others.

It is natural for testosterone levels to decrease as we age. In fact, the American Urological Association^[9] suggests that two in ten men older than 60 years have low testosterone levels.

While levels of this crucial hormone drop naturally during the aging process, in some men the production of testosterone decreases drastically. As a result, various symptoms can occur including:

• Decreased bone mass
• Decreased semen volume
• Erectile dysfunction
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Increased body fat
• Loss of muscle mass
• Low sex drive
• Mood changes and irritability

As you can see, low testosterone levels have a major impact on your sexual performance. For extreme cases of low testosterone, the doctor may recommend testosterone replacement therapy. It is also important to have a healthy lifestyle because many factors can influence testosterone levels.

Maintain weight in a healthy range, exercise regularly, eat a well-balanced diet, to improve testosterone production. Some men also take dietary supplements, but before you do so, it is recommended to consult your doctor first.

6. Disordered Orgasm

Although anorgasmia is more common in women, it can affect men too. Anorgasmia or male orgasmic disorder occurs when a man is unable to achieve orgasm even with adequate stimulation. It is closely related to delayed ejaculation.

In most cases^[6], a man can reach orgasm during manual or oral stimulation by a partner or while masturbating, but he is unable to achieve a climax through vaginal intercourse.

The most common causes of disordered orgasm are psychological in nature including depression, feelings of guilt, anger, fear, unsatisfactory relationship with a loved one, anxiety, and others. Other causes include^[7]:

• Feeling guilty to have sex
• Negative attitudes about sex
• Past sexual abuse or trauma
• Performance anxiety

Of course, some biological factors can affect the ability to achieve orgasm properly. Some of them include low testosterone, both hyper- and hypothyroidism, pituitary conditions, alcohol and substance abuse, and certain medications.

Addressing the underlying causes of this problem can be a helpful strategy to improve the intensity and quality of your orgasms.

Psychotherapy is common, and effective, treatment ^[8] for men whose disordered orgasm problem stems from psychological issues. Of course, don’t forget to discuss this problem with your significant other and work together to solve it.

7. Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s disease refers to the development of fibrous scar tissue inside the penis. Due to this tissue, the penis becomes curved and affected men experience painful erections.

First, it is important to clarify that penises vary in size and shape and a curved penis isn’t always a cause for concern. That being said, the disease induces a significant bend of the penis and pain.

The most common cause of Peyronie’s disease is an injury to the penis, according to the American Urological Association. The penis injury usually occurs due to vigorous sex, but some men can also sustain it in sports and other types of accidents.

As the wound is healing, scar tissue forms in a disorganized fashion and leads to the development of curvature or a module that you can feel.

While the injury is the most common cause of Peyronie’s disease, in many cases affected men haven’t sustained an injury to the penis. Based on this fact, scientists explain the disease could have genetic or environmental causes too.

The risk of experiencing Peyronie’s disease increases if you’re a smoker, high blood sugar, or past pelvic trauma because these factors slow down wound healing process. Heredity is a common risk factor, just like being 55 or older.

Some cases of the disease don’t require treatment and doctor may recommend wait-and-see approach if the penis curvature isn’t severe, you can achieve and maintain erections and have sex with no or mild pain.

For men with Peyronie’s who do need a treatment, the doctor may recommend medications or surgery.

See More: Can You Get a Bigger Penis with Frequent Masturbation?

Conclusion

Sexual dysfunction refers to problems affecting any aspect of your sexual activity. Both men and women can deal with these problems. Sexual problems are manageable and you just have to be proactive, seek doctor’s help when necessary, and strive to have a healthier lifestyle.