When people think of male bedroom dysfunctions, problems such as ED or PE often come to mind. But there’s a third issue that’s more common in men than you might expect — the inability to reach climax.
Anorgasmia is a bedroom disorder in which a man or woman finds it difficult or impossible to reach climax. During intercourse or self-pleasure — even if they’re aroused and stimulated and using the best toys in their arsenal — people with this condition just can’t get over the finish line.
For many men, anorgasmia is about more than just a lack of climax. The inability to finish can cause secondary issues. Anxiety, avoidance, depression and a reduced level of interest in intercourse can all arise — and that’s before we talk about how incredibly frustrated men with this problem can become.
There’s no ready-to-use medication for male anorgasmia, and figuring out the cause can be difficult. But various treatments can help relieve symptoms for any guy willing to seek help.
You probably have lots of questions, and we have answers. Below, we’ll explain what anorgasmia is, cover the causes, symptoms and treatment options, and give you some advice on what to do next if you have issues relating to your ability to reach climax.
What Is Anorgasmia?
Anorgasmia is the persistent or recurrent difficulty achieving climax — or the inability to reach climax during intimate stimulation. It can occur during intercourse or self-pleasure and is often a significant cause of personal distress related to intercourse.
Anorgasmia is referred to by a few different names. You may have heard it described as delayed climax, inhibited climax, retarded climax or inhibited climax.
But while all these names may refer to essentially the same problem, anorgasmia as a whole can actually come in several forms.
Types of Anorgasmia in Men
Cases of anorgasmia in men are usually categorized into two groups: primary anorgasmia and secondary anorgasmia.
Primary anorgasmia is typically defined as anorgasmia that affects a man for his entire bedroom life. If you’re affected by primary anorgasmia, you may have found it slow, difficult or impossible to climax. And the problem may have started from your first few intimate experiences.
Secondary anorgasmia is typically defined as anorgasmia that develops after a period of normal intimate experiences. In other words, it comes seemingly out of nowhere after years of otherwise normal bedroom function. With this type of anorgasmia, you may notice that you can no longer reach climax, even after years of having intercourse or self-pleasuring without any issues.
Secondary anorgasmia may also present as situational. This means it could be related to particular types of intimacy or created after an event that caused some emotional distress, like abuse.
While anorgasmia is less common than other male bedroom performance issues, the issue affects a considerable number of men. Some research has found that approximately 1.5 out of every 1,000 men are affected by primary anorgasmia. And roughly 4 percent of men under the age of 65 are affected by secondary anorgasmia.
Causes of Male Anorgasmia
Many factors may cause or worsen male anorgasmia.
Some causes of male anorgasmia are psychological, such as depression or anxiety. Others are physical, such as nerve damage, loss of sensitivity, use of certain medications or hormonal health issues.
We discuss more on nerve damage in this neurological ED guide.
Let’s take an in-depth look at all the potential psychological and physical causes of male anorgasmia.
Psychological Causes of Anorgasmia
Psychological factors that may cause male anorgasmia include:
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Depression. If you’re depressed, it may keep you from finishing. Intimacy issues such as difficulty climaxing are common in men with depression. If you’re depressed, you may experience difficulty getting or staying hard, a reduced bedroom drive and/or anorgasmia.
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Anxiety. Anxious about work, intimacy or life in general? It could keep you from getting off. Anorgasmia may be caused by certain forms of anxiety, including anxiety relating to intimate relations. Factors like a fear of pregnancy, trauma and general anxiety (among others) may all cause anorgasmia.
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Lack of arousal. While the causes can be complicated, one simple cause is sometimes overlooked: You might just not be into it. Sometimes, a simple lack of arousal can make it more difficult to climax. Some men — particularly those who use ED medications to treat other medical conditions related to performance — may be able to get hard without feeling aroused but find it hard to climax.
Physiological Causes of Anorgasmia
Physical factors that may cause male anorgasmia include:
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Use of SSRIs. Anorgasmia is a known side effect of many selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — a common type of antidepressant. Many SSRIs cause a range of intimacy issues, including reduced desire and inability to climax. Since SSRIs are used to treat depression, it can be difficult to know if anorgasmia is caused by the medication itself or a symptom of depression.
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Use of other medications. Other medications, such as antipsychotics and opioids, may also affect your performance and ability to climax. For the record, some recreational or illegal drugs may also complicate your getting-off process. Keep this in mind if you’ve been drinking, smoking, or doing recreational drugs.
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Low testosterone. Research suggests that hormonal deficiencies, including low levels of testosterone, may play a role in anorgasmia. A small study of 206 men with difficulty climaxing found that 21 percent had clinically low testosterone levels.
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Other hormonal issues. In addition to testosterone, several other hormones may affect climaxing. For instance, prolactin and other hormones related to prolactin levels may be associated with anorgasmia.
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Loss of sensation. Research suggests it’s normal to lose some level of sensitivity with age. If your member is less sensitive or if you’d describe it as numb, you might find it more difficult to climax during intimate activity.
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Nerve damage. Damage to the nerves in your lower body, whether from a pinched nerve, an injury to the spinal cord, surgery to the reproductive organs or prostate, pelvic trauma, diabetic neuropathy or other nerve-damaging diseases, can potentially cause anorgasmia.
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Self-pleasure. Solo sessions may also contribute to anorgasmia. Over time, self-pleasuring can affect your bedroom performance and habits. For example, some men find self-pleasuring more pleasurable than intercourse due to certain techniques or fantasies. Research suggests men with anorgasmia tend to self-pleasure often. There’s also a real link between anorgasmia and unusual self-pleasuring practices.
Symptoms of Anorgasmia in Men
It’s fairly obvious that anorgasmia has a direct impact on your ability to climax, so we’re not going to keep belaboring the point. But while mental health and intimacy health issues may sometimes be related to the cause of your anorgasmia, they might also become symptoms.
Because of its effects on bedroom performance and pleasure, anorgasmia can often cause issues such as anxiety, frustration and general intimacy dissatisfaction. These may lead to other issues like ED and a reduced libido.
What this may look like for you could include any of the following:
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Avoiding intimacy because you know you’ll be unable to finish
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Self-pleasuring excessively in an attempt to finish
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Relationship problems caused by frustration of not finishing
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Simply losing interest in intercourse, knowing the pleasure isn’t likely to come
If this sounds familiar, it’s time to talk to a professional and get to work on treatment. But before treatment, you’ll need to get diagnosed so your healthcare provider can understand more about what’s keeping you from getting over the finish line.
Diagnosis of Anorgasmia
By now, you hopefully realize this problem isn’t going away without help. Still, it’s worth saying: If you find it difficult or impossible to climax during intercourse or solo time, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider. A healthcare professional will work with you to accurately diagnose the root cause of your issues and recommend a suitable treatment.
When you visit your healthcare provider, they may perform a physical exam and ask about any medications you use. If you’ve recently developed anorgasmia after starting a certain type of medication, make sure to let your provider know.
Depending on the possible cause of your anorgasmia, your healthcare provider might suggest a range of tests, including:
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Testosterone, prolactin, thyroid and other hormone tests. These hormones can all affect your performance. You can check them with a simple blood test and often get your results within a few days.
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Sensitivity tests. If a physical factor is the suspected cause of your anorgasmia, you may need to undergo testing to check sensation in your privates. Several tests are used for this purpose, including biothesiometry, skin testing and sacral reflex testing.
These tests can help your provider more accurately diagnose the underlying issues that may cause you to experience difficulty climaxing.
Anorgasmia Treatment Options
Since male anorgasmia can occur for numerous reasons, there’s no one-size-fits-all pill you can take to treat your symptoms and help you climax normally. In fact, there’s currently no FDA-approved medication designed specifically for anorgasmia in men.
If your anorgasmia is related to a physical or psychological issue, your healthcare provider may refer you to a urologist or a psychiatrist for specialized treatment.
Depending on the specific cause of your anorgasmia, you might benefit from a range of treatment options. Common treatments for anorgasmia include:
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Psychotherapy. If your anorgasmia is caused by a psychological issue, you may benefit from psychotherapy. Talk therapy is often helpful for treating bedroom dysfunction caused by anxiety, depression and other mood disorders. Online counseling is also a great option if you prefer virtual therapy.
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Intimacy therapy. Certain forms of intimacy therapy may help you enjoy intercourse and climax more easily. You and your partner may benefit from changing your arousal methods, exploring anxiety reduction techniques with a therapist or just discussing them openly as they pertain to your relationship. If your anorgasmia is related to self-pleasure, changing the way you do so or switching up your fantasies may improve your bedroom performance and treat anorgasmia.
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Changing medications. If you currently use SSRIs or other antidepressants, you might need to switch medications. Certain antidepressants, such as bupropion, are less likely to cause bedroom side effects and may help improve anorgasmia in men.
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Medications for hormonal issues. If your anorgasmia is caused by a hormonal issue, your healthcare provider might prescribe medication to increase or decrease your levels of certain hormones. For prolactin-based anorgasmia, your healthcare provider may suggest off-label treatment with the drug cabergoline. If your anorgasmia is caused by low testosterone, your healthcare provider might recommend supplemental testosterone.
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Vibratory stimulation. If you have a reduced level of sensitivity, vibratory stimulation could help you achieve more well-rounded intimacy function. This form of treatment involves vibration to the frenulum — an elastic area of tissue near the tip of the member — and may help induce climax and treat anorgasmia.
Your healthcare provider will help you figure out the most effective treatment option for your unique needs. Be sure to closely follow their instructions, and if you’re prescribed medication to treat anorgasmia, use it as prescribed for optimal results.
Anorgasmia in Men: Final Thoughts
Anorgasmia can be a frustrating occurrence, especially when it affects you and your partner’s ability to enjoy intercourse. That sucks, but it can stop sucking.
If your intimacy life has been put on hold because of bedroom dysfunction, keep this in mind as you seek out solutions:
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A wide range of factors, from psychological issues to physical ones, may affect your ability to climax during intercourse.
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There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for anorgasmia.
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If you have recurring or persistent anorgasmia, talk to your healthcare provider about testing and treatment options.
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With the right combination of testing and treatment, it’s often possible to improve anorgasmia and enjoy intercourse without any concerns about your ability to successfully climax.
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You should also tell your healthcare provider about any additional climax problems that might be occurring alongside your trouble finishing.
If you’re losing your arousal before you’re able to finish, you may also want to discuss ED treatments with your provider. Medications like Viagra, Cialis or Stendra can help.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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These Are the 5 Best Drinks for ED
Watermelon, dark chocolate and bananas may all be great foods to eat to keep hard, but what do you wash them down with?
As you eat foods that help you get hard, you might be wondering if there are also drinks to help with ED. What about special tea? Does drinking water help you perform?
Look, it would be great if you could hydrate your way to harder erections, and to a certain extent, you certainly can (more on that soon). But know that if you’re looking for powdered supplements or magic potions, we have bad news: there’s no such thing as a “performance enhancing” drink.
There are, however, some drinks that you might want to try if you’d like to shift the balance in favor of your arousal health.
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While it’s known that certain foods can improve erectile health and help with ED, what drinks for ED can help? Is there a best juice for ED or any other kind of best drink for ED?
While there’s no one best drink for ED, there are some drinks that might give you some benefits.
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Although the evidence isn’t that strong, one 2013 review found drinking pomegranate juice was associated with improvements in ED in several studies.
The most likely reason for this is that the antioxidants in pomegranate juice have been found to enhance nitric oxide levels.
Nitric oxide is a naturally produced molecule that promotes blood flow throughout your vascular system. That makes it important for your physical functioning — including the ability to get and maintain arousal.
Research has found that nitric oxide plays a role in erectile function by relaxing the vascular muscle that supplies your genitals with blood when you’re aroused.
FYI: grape juice has also been found to increase nitric oxide levels, and its flavonoids may benefit vascular health.
While the evidence of the effects of pomegranate juice isn’t very clear, this juice for ED may be worth a try. Or you can try drinking grape juice if you prefer the taste.
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The most refreshing summer beverage for ED is watermelon. We’re calling it now — next year’s summer drink trend.
Look, watermelon is technically a food, but when juiced, it’s more than just a refreshing beverage — it’s one of the best sources of l-citrulline out there.
L-citrulline is an amino acid noted for its benefits to blood flow and vascular function, which are important parts of physical performance and bedroom performance. And yes, we’re pretty sure eating slices of it works fine too.
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Looking for the best juice for ED that can also totally stain your clothes? (Hey, we’re not going to judge). It comes from the beetroot, in our opinion and the opinion of our laundry detergent.
Okay, there’s no strong evidence of beet juice treating ED, but beet juice can increase nitric oxide in your blood, which may help to open up blood vessels — like those around your genitals — and promote the blood flow needed to get hard.
Beet juice may also affect blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), foods that are high in nitrates like beets and beet juice can lower your blood pressure.
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There are a few reasons to avoid milk, like lactose intolerance or concerns about hormones, but medical experts wouldn’t suggest avoiding it for ED.
Drinking milk may help with arousal, according to a 2003 study. It found that foods with the amino acid L-arginine — such as dairy — can help relax your muscles and improve blood flow.
Also, kids who grew up in the ‘90s get some nostalgia from a good milk mustache, so… that’s a benefit.
(Related: The 5 Best Drinks for Erectile Dysfunction)
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While the world’s most popular sources of natural caffeine are good for your health, we’re not talking about the flavored, canned and bottled drinks you get at gas stations. But if you’re a coffee or tea drinker struggling with ED, you may be in luck.
Caffeine may improve blood flow, according to a 2005 review, as well as relax the smooth muscle that cause and sustain arousal. Another study found that consuming 170mg to 375mg of caffeine per day was enough to significantly reduce reports of ED, compared to those who didn’t consume that much.
The jury’s out on the benefits of caffeine in improving functioning, but we’ll take our coffee anyway.
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You don’t need to read studies on men’s health and desire to know that alcohol isn’t great for you.
Call it alcohol-induced ED, drinking affects your central nervous system, arousal and performance.
Oh, and the sugary drinks that are often mixed with alcohol aren’t a part of a healthy lifestyle either — obesity and heart disease are both serious risks of a diet rich in sugars and they increase your chance of developing ED.
Do with this info what you will, but alcohol in moderation is generally thought to be best for everyone and everything — including your bedroom performance.
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Some drinks may have an impact on your risk of sexual dysfunction, but unless you become severely dehydrated, what you drink probably isn’t going to be the biggest player in how easy it is for you to get hard. More often than not, ED is a result of better-established reasons for ED, like the psychological causes (stress, depression or performance anxiety) or the physical causes (genetial health, testosterone levels or cardiovascular health).
In these cases, other approaches to ED treatment make more sense. We like to break them into two categories:
(Related: The Best ED Pills for Men: Pros & Cons of ED Medication)
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ED medications called PDE5 inhibitors work to encourage getting hard via increased blood flow to your genetials. These medications include:
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Viagra (sildenafil). Sildenafil, or generic Viagra, provides relief from ED for around four hours.
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Cialis (tadalafil). Tadalafil is a long-lasting medication that can provide relief from ED for up to 36 hours.
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Stendra (avanafil). A newer ED medication that’s fast-acting, avanafil is less likely to cause certain side effects than older medications.
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Levitra (vardenafil). This oral medication can provide relief from ED for slightly longer than sildenafil.
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Being overweight or obese, drinking excessive alcohol, smoking, having a sedentary lifestyle and using certain types of medication can all increase your ED risk, as well as affect your overall health. Because of this, the best preventative measures are regular exercise, eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet, and quitting smoking and other unhealthy habits.
Another issue that may cause problems is your mental health. Bedroom performance anxiety is a fairly well known psychological issue, but anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and negative body issues can all cause psychological ED in otherwise healthy individuals.
The best solution? Therapy and medication.
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Like the potion guide in your favorite video games, we can point you to the best drink to last longer in bed and drinks to increase arousal, as well as give you the honest answer about whether energy drinks cause ED or if olive oil and lemon juice can treat it.
We also have guides for PE, foods that help ED and a deeper dive into water and how it helps your arousal.
The bottom line is that there’s no magic tonic. Hopefully, however, the health benefits we’ve outlined above give you some ideas of what to sip while you ponder better approaches to improving your functioning.
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An extra cup of coffee, grape juice, beet juice or even milk could help with ED or the health conditions that cause it.
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More importantly, cutting down on your booze could prevent alcohol-induced ED from taking hold.
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If all else fails, there are plenty of science-backed ED treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that a healthcare provider can prescribe.
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If the cause of your ED is psychological in nature and not related to your physical health, it may be time to schedule a consultation with a mental health professional.
The best treatment, of course, is to talk with your healthcare provider about your symptoms and learn more about the best ED treatments for you.
This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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Featured Image Credit: eggeeggjiew / iStock.
