3 Different Types of Ejaculatory Disorders

A satisfying sex life can seep into other parts of your life: It can offer you a more optimistic mindset, a healthier marriage or relationship, and even a lower risk of prostate cancer. Yet, even if you have a thriving libido, you might experience sexual dissatisfaction and stress because of an ejaculation or orgasmic disorder.

As their name suggests, ejaculation disorders affect the timing and manner of the expulsion of semen. While your biggest issue with ejaculation disorder symptoms may be related to your sexual satisfaction, some have negative health implications beyond your own pleasure.

Our team of seasoned urologists at Gulf Coast Urology in Houston and Nassau Bay, Texas, treat all kinds of male sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and the three main types of ejaculation disorders. Even if you have no problem getting and maintaining a firm erection, ejaculation disorders can have a greater impact on your sex life than you realize at first.

Familiarize yourself with the three most common ejaculation disorders and how they can affect your sex life:

1. Premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation occurs when ejaculation happens rapidly, and you can’t stop it. It may happen earlier than you’d like it to or earlier than your partner would prefer. This can happen to any man from time to time: In fact, around one in three sexually mature men experience it. It doesn’t always require treatment, but you might search for solutions if it happens regularly enough to affect your personal confidence or sexual relationships.

Identifying and addressing the underlying cause of premature ejaculation is often the best way to deal with it. Some of the most common causes are:

• Serotonin depletion
• Depression
• Stress
• Age
• A history of sexual repression
• Low confidence

In any case, you can rest assured that premature ejaculation is an issue you can handle. There are plenty of ways to increase the time it takes for you to ejaculate, including counseling, behavioral therapy, and even some medications.

2. Delayed ejaculation

If it seems to take forever for you to ejaculate, no matter how much stimulation you apply, you’re experiencing delayed ejaculation. In the most severe cases, ejaculation never happens, and you’re left feeling deprived and dissatisfied after sex. While most cases of delayed ejaculation are temporary and linked to a fixable cause, the issue can be lifelong.

Most cases of lifelong delayed ejaculation exist from the moment you reach sexual maturity. If this is a new concern for you, your urologist explores possible causes such as:

• Depression or anxiety
• Relationship-specific problems
• Alcohol consumption
• Certain medications
• Hormone imbalances
• Urinary tract infections
• Neurological issues

You can work with your urologist to identify the likeliest causes of your delayed ejaculation and collaborate to find a solution. Not yet ready to book an appointment? You might try avoiding alcohol for a while, increasing communication with your partner, or taking steps to manage your stress in a healthy way.

3. Retrograde ejaculation

Retrograde ejaculation is unique in that it can cause physiological conditions over time if you don’t treat the issue. Retrograde ejaculation causes semen to enter your bladder instead of exiting through your urethra. While many cases are not harmful in the long term, the condition can cause infertility until you treat it.

You might not initially realize that something is amiss when you have sex. You might find out about retrograde ejaculation when you attempt to get a partner pregnant without success, or you might notice that your orgasms are “dry” or semen-less. In many cases, men with retrograde ejaculation notice cloudy urine because of the semen that has infiltrated it.

While you should seek treatment if you’re planning on having children, you don’t necessarily need treatment otherwise.

Treatment can help: Here’s how

The first step in restoring a healthy ejaculation pattern is to schedule an evaluation. An experienced urologist takes your comprehensive medical and sexual history and may perform a focused genital examination to confirm an ejaculation disorder diagnosis and explore possible underlying causes.

For more information on ejaculation disorders, their causes, and how to manage them, schedule an appointment online or over the phone at either Gulf Coast Urology office today.