When people think of male sexual dysfunctions, problems such as erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE) are usually the first that come to mind.
While these are relatively common sexual issues, some men are affected by a totally different type of sexual dysfunction: anorgasmia.
Anorgasmia is a sexual disorder in which you may find it difficult or impossible to reach orgasm during sex or masturbation, even if you’re aroused and sexually stimulated. For many men, anorgasmia can cause issues such as anxiety and a reduced level of interest in sex.
While there’s no ready-to-use medication for male anorgasmia, a variety of treatments may help to relieve your symptoms and improve your ability to orgasm.
Below, we’ve explained what anorgasmia is, as well as the factors that may cause you to have issues related to your ability to reach orgasm. We’ve also talked about how anorgasmia can be diagnosed and treated to help you to reach orgasm during sex more consistently.
Anorgasmia is a persistent or recurrent difficulty achieving orgasm, or inability to reach orgasm during sexual stimulation. It can occur during sexual intercourse or masturbation and is often a significant cause of personal distress related to sex.
Anorgasmia is referred to by a variety of different names. You may have heard of it described as delayed orgasm, inhibited orgasm, retarded orgasm/ejaculation or inhibited ejaculation.
Because of its effects on sexual performance and pleasure, anorgasmia can often cause issues such as anxiety, frustration and general sexual dissatisfaction. These may lead to other sexual issues, such as erectile dysfunction and a reduced sex drive.
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 their entire sexual life. If you’re affected by primary anorgasmia, you may have found it slow, difficult or impossible to reach orgasm beginning from your first few sexual experiences.
Secondary anorgasmia is typically defined as anorgasmia that develops after a period of normal sexual experiences. With this type of anorgasmia, you may notice that you can no longer reach orgasm and ejaculate, even after years of having sex or masturbating without any issues.
While anorgasmia is less common than other male sexual performance issues, it’s still an issue that affects a reasonable number of men.
Some research has found that approximately 1.5 out of every 1,000 men are affected by primary anorgasmia, with about three to four percent of men under the age of 65 affected by secondary anorgasmia.
A variety of 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 penile sensitivity, use of certain medications or hormonal health issues.
Psychological factors that may cause male anorgasmia include:
Physical factors that may cause male anorgasmia include:
Sometimes, more than one factor may contribute to anorgasmia and other sexual performance issues, such as use of medication and a simultaneous underlying health issue.
Because male anorgasmia can occur for a variety of reasons, there’s no one-size-fits-all pill that you can take to treat your symptoms and help you orgasm normally. In fact, there isn’t yet any FDA-approved medication that’s designed specifically for anorgasmia in men.
If you find it difficult or impossible to achieve orgasm during sex or masturbation, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider. They’ll be able to work with you to accurately diagnose the root cause of your orgasm issues and recommend a suitable treatment.
When you visit your healthcare provider, they may perform a physical exam and ask you about any medications you use. If you’ve recently developed anorgasmia after starting a certain type of medication, make sure that you let your healthcare provider know about this.
Depending on the possible cause of your anorgasmia, your healthcare provider may suggest a range of tests:
These tests can help to more accurately diagnose the underlying issues that may cause you to experience difficulty reaching orgasm.
If your anorgasmia is related to a physical or psychological issue, your healthcare provider may refer you to a urologist or psychiatrist for specialized treatment.
Depending on the specific cause of your anorgasmia, you may benefit from a range of different treatment options. Common treatments for anorgasmia include:
Your healthcare provider will let you know the most effective treatment option for you. Make sure to closely follow their instructions and, if you’re prescribed medication to treat anorgasmia, use it as prescribed for optimal results.
Anorgasmia can be a frustrating occurrence, especially when it affects you and your partner’s ability to enjoy sex.
As we explained above, there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for anorgasmia. Instead, a large range of different factors, from psychological issues to physical ones, may affect your ability to reach orgasm and ejaculate during sex.
If you have recurring or persistent anorgasmia, talk to your healthcare provider. With the right combination of testing and treatment, it’s often possible to improve anorgasmia and enjoy sex without any concerns about your ability to successfully reach orgasm.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.