Anorgasmia is the inability to achieve orgasm during sexual stimulation due to a continuous or recurrent trouble obtaining orgasm. It can happen during sexual intercourse or masturbation, and it’s a common source of sex-related personal misery.
It is known by a number of distinct terms. Delay orgasm, inhibited orgasm, retarded orgasm/ejaculation, or inhibited ejaculation are all terms that have been used to describe it. This create anxiety, frustration, and general sexual dissatisfaction because of its consequences on sexual performance and enjoyment.
Anorgasmia in males is often divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Orgasmic dysfunction that plagues a guy for his whole sexual life is known as primary. If you have this, you may have found it difficult, if not impossible, to achieve orgasm from your first few sexual encounters.
Anorgasmia in Men: What Causes It?
Coughlan’s syndrome can be caused by a variety of factors, including despair or worry. Others are physical in nature, such as nerve injury, lack of penile sensitivity, pharmaceutical usage, or hormonal health difficulties. Male anorgasmia can be caused by a variety of , Including:
Psychological
- Men with depression are more likely to have sexual problems, such as difficulties attaining orgasm. If you’re depressed, you could have trouble acquiring or keeping an erection, as well as a decreased sex drive or orgasmic disorder.
- Coughlan’s syndrome can be triggered by some types of worry, such as worry over sexual encounters. Anorgasmia can be caused by a variety of factors, including a fear of pregnancy, sexual trauma, general anxiety, and others.
- It might be difficult to orgasm when there is a lack of sexual desire. Some men, especially those who use ED medicines, may be able to acquire an erection without feeling sexually stimulated, although climax may be difficult to achieve.
- Masturbation might affect your sexual performance and habits over time. Because of specific masturbation methods or sexual thoughts, some guys find masturbating more enjoyable than intercourse.
Psychological
- The bulbocavernosus reflex, which causes the anal sphincter to constrict during ejaculation, is absent from birth.
- Many selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs — a prominent kind of antidepressant — are known to cause anorgasmia as a side effect. Many SSRIs induce sexual problems, such as decreased sexual desire and difficulty to orgasm. Because SSRIs are used to treat depression, determining whether orgasmic dysfunction is caused by the drug or a symptom of depression can be challenging.
- Multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), and uncontrolled hypertension are only a few examples (high blood pressure)
- Hormonal deficits, such as low testosterone levels, may have a role in Coughlan’s syndrome, according to research. In a study of males who had trouble attaining orgasm, it was shown that 21% had clinically low testosterone levels.
- Penile numbness is a condition in which the penile feeling is lost. According to studies, it’s typical to lose some penile sensitivity as you get older. If your penis is less sensitive, reaching orgasm during sexual activity may be more challenging.
- Damage to the nerves. Damage to the nerves in your lower body, whether from a spinal cord injury, genital or prostate surgery, pelvic trauma, diabetic neuropathy, or other nerve-damaging illnesses, can result in orgasmic dysfunction.
Anorgasmia and other sexual performance difficulties can be caused by a combination of factors, such as the use of medicine and a concurrent underlying health condition.
Diagnosis
The underlying cause of male anorgasmia must be correctly diagnosed before therapy can begin. If you’re having trouble doing this, see your health care physician to start the procedure.
Your doctor will examine you thoroughly and go over your medical history. This might involve a review of any drugs you’re now taking or have used in the past. It’s worth noting whether the commencement of your incapacity to orgasm happens to coincide with the commencement of a new medication.
Your doctor may request more tests or send you to a specialist based on their first assessment. Given the connection between body and mind in sexual health, this may be a urologist for a medical issue or a mental health expert for a psychological one, or both.
The following tests are typically performed to help detect the cause of male anorgasmia:
- Tests to assess endocrine function and measure hormone levels such as testosterone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and prolactin, a hormone that influences testosterone levels.
- Sacral reflex arc testing is used to look at the motor and sensory branches of the pudendal nerve (which conveys sensation from the external genitalia and the skin around the anus and perineum) as well as the nerve roots.
- Biothesiometry is a test that determines whether there is a decrease of sensation in the penis, which could be a result of a disorder like diabetes.
- Skin reaction of the penile sympathetic nerve
Treatments for Male Anorgasmia or Coughlan’s syndrome
Because male anorgasmia can be caused by a multitude of factors, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for treating your symptoms and restoring normal orgasm. In reality, no FDA-approved medicine for anorgasmia in men is currently available. It’s critical to speak with your healthcare practitioner if you’re having trouble achieving orgasm during sex or masturbation. They’ll be able to work with you to pinpoint the source of your orgasm problems and provide a treatment plan.
When you visit your doctor, they may conduct a physical examination and inquire about any drugs you are taking. Make sure to tell your healthcare practitioner if you’ve lately acquired orgasmic dysfunction after starting a certain sort of medication.
Your healthcare professional may recommend a variety of tests depending on the reason of your anorgasmia:
- Tests for testosterone, prolactin, thyroid, and other hormones are available. All of these hormones have the potential to alter your sexual performance. A simple blood test can be used to examine these hormones, and the results are usually available within a few days.
- Sensitivity testing for the sperm. If a physical issue is considered as the source of your orgasmic disorder, you may need to have your penile sensation tested. Biothesiometry, skin testing, and sacral reflex testing are among the tests utilized for this aim.
These tests can aid in more precisely diagnosing the underlying difficulties that may be preventing you from experiencing orgasm. Your healthcare practitioner may recommend you to a urologist or psychiatrist for specialized therapy if your anorgasmia is caused by a medical or psychological problem.
- Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy may be beneficial if your condition is caused by a psychological problem. Sexual dysfunction caused by anxiety, sadness, and other mood disorders is frequently treated with therapy.
- Sex therapy is a type of sexual treatment. Certain types of sex therapy may make it easier for you to enjoy sex and achieve orgasm. Changing your arousal tactics and sexual anxiety reduction tactics may benefit both you and your partner.
- Medications are being changed. You may need to switch drugs if you’re currently taking SSRIs or other antidepressants. Certain antidepressants, such as bupropion, have less sexual adverse effects and may help men with anorgasmia.
- Hormone-related medications. Your healthcare practitioner may recommend medicine to boost or reduce the levels of specific hormones if it is caused by a hormonal problem.
- Vibratory stimulation of the penile organ. Vibratory stimulation (a type of treatment that involves vibration to the frenulum — an elastic region of tissue around the tip of the penis) may assist induce orgasm and treat Coughlan’s syndrome if you have a lower level of penile sensitivity.
The most appropriate treatment option for you will be determined by your healthcare practitioner. Follow their directions carefully, and if you’ve been prescribed medication to treat anorgasmia, take it exactly as directed for best results.
Final Thoughts
Anorgasmia can be aggravating, especially when it interferes with your and your partner’s ability to enjoy sex. This medical condition does not have a one-size-fits-all treatment, as we previously stated. Instead, a variety of factors, ranging from psychological to physical, might influence your capacity to achieve orgasm and ejaculate during sex.
Consult your doctor if you experience Coughlan’s syndrome that is recurring or persistent. It’s generally possible to improve orgasmic disorder and enjoy sex without worrying about your ability to reach orgasm with the correct combination of testing and treatment.
