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Delayed ejaculation - Overview

Alternative Names

Ejaculatory incompetence; Sex - delayed ejaculation; Retarded ejaculation

Definition of Delayed ejaculation:

Delayed ejaculation is a medical condition in which a male is unable to ejaculate, either during intercourse or with manual stimulation in the presence of a partner. Ejaculation is the action in which semen is release from the penis.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Most men ejaculate within a few minutes after onset of active thrusting in intercourse. Men with delayed ejaculation may be entirely unable to ejaculate in some circumstances (for example, during intercourse), or may only be able to ejaculate with great effort and after prolonged intercourse (for example 30 to 45 minutes).

Delayed ejaculation can result from psychological or physical causes.

Common psychological causes include:

A strict religious background causing the person to view sex as sinful
Lack of attraction for a partner
Conditioning caused by unique or atypical masturbation patterns
Traumatic events (such as being discovered in masturbation or illicit sex, or learning one's partner is having an affair)

Some factors, such as anger toward the partner, may be involved.

Physical causes may include:

Use of certain drugs (such as prozac, mellaril, and guanethidine)
Neurological disease such as a stroke or nerve damage to the spinal cord or back

Male reproductive system

Reviewed last on: 9/22/2009
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Lue TF, Broderick GA. Evaluation and management of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 22.

Moore DP, Jefferson JW. Erectile dysfunction. In: Moore DP, Jefferson JW, eds. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2004:chap 100.

Moore DP, Jefferson JW. Inhibited male orgasm. In: Moore DP, Jefferson JW, eds. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2004:chap 102.

Inhibited sexual desire

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