Ejaculation problems

Ejaculation problems are common sexual problems in men.

The three main problems are:

• premature ejaculation 
• delayed ejaculation 
• retrograde ejaculation 

These are described in more detail below.

Premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is the most common ejaculation problem. It's where the male ejaculates too quickly during sexual intercourse.

A study looking at 500 couples from five different countries found the average time taken to ejaculate during intercourse was around five-and-a-half minutes. However, it's up to each couple to decide if they’re happy with the time taken – there’s no definition of how long sex should last.

Occasional episodes of premature ejaculation are common and aren't a cause for concern. However, if you're finding that around half of your attempts at sex result in premature ejaculation, it might help to get treatment.

Causes of premature ejaculation 

Various psychological and physical factors can cause a man to suddenly experience premature ejaculation.

Common physical causes include:

• prostate problems
• thyroid problems – an overactive or under active thyroid gland  
• using recreational drugs

Common psychological causes include:

• depression  
• stress  
• relationship problems
• anxiety about sexual performance (particularly at the start of a new relationship, or when a man has had previous problems with sexual performance)

It's possible, but less common, for a man to have always experienced premature ejaculation since becoming sexually active. A number of possible causes for this are:

• Conditioning – it's possible that early sexual experiences can influence future sexual behaviour. For example, if a teenager conditions himself to ejaculate quickly to avoid being caught masturbating, it may later be difficult to break the habit.
• A traumatic sexual experience from childhood – this can range from being caught masturbating to sexual abuse.
• A strict upbringing and beliefs about sex.
• Biological reasons – some men may find their penis is extra sensitive.

Treating premature ejaculation

There are a number of things you can try yourself before seeking medical help.

Measures you can try yourself

It can sometimes help to:

• masturbate an hour or two before having sex
• use a thick condom to help decrease sensation
• take a deep breath to briefly shut down the ejaculatory reflex (an automatic reflex of the body during which ejaculation occurs)
• have sex with your partner on top (to allow them to pull away when you are close to ejaculating)
• take breaks during sex and think about something boring

Couples therapy

If you're in a long-term relationship, you may benefit from having couples therapy. During these sessions, the therapist will:

• encourage couples to explore any relationship issues they have, and give them advice about resolving them
• show the couple techniques that can help you "unlearn" the habit of premature ejaculation (the two most popular techniques are the "squeeze" and "stop-go" techniques)

In the squeeze technique, your partner masturbates you, but stops before the point of ejaculation and squeezes the head of your penis for between 10 to 20 seconds. They then let go and wait for another 30 seconds before resuming masturbation. This process is carried out several times before ejaculation is allowed to occur.

The stop-go technique is similar, but your partner doesn’t squeeze your penis. Once you feel more confident about delaying ejaculation, you and your partner can begin to have sex, stopping and starting as required.

These techniques may sound simple, but they require lots of practice.

Antidepressants (SSRIs)

Selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are designed to treat depression, but they also delay ejaculation. SSRIs used for this purpose include:

• paroxetine
• sertraline
• fluoxetine

Some men may experience an improvement as soon as treatment begins. However, you'll usually need to take the medication for one to two weeks before you notice the full effects.

Side effects of SSRIs are usually mild and should improve after two to three weeks. They include:

• fatigue
• feeling sick and being sick
• diarrhea 
• excessive sweating

Dapoxetine

An SSRI specifically designed to treat premature ejaculation, known as dapoxetine (Priligy), has now been licensed in the UK. Local NHS authorities can choose to prescribe it on the NHS.

It acts much faster than the SSRIs mentioned above and can be used "on demand". You’ll usually be advised to take it between one and three hours before sex, but not more than once a day.

Your response to the treatment will then be reviewed after four weeks (or after six doses), and again every six months.

Dapoxetine isn't suitable for all men diagnosed with premature ejaculation. For example, it is not recommended for some men with heart, kidney and liver problems. It can also interact with other medications, such as other antidepressants.

Common side effects include:

• headaches
• dizziness
• feeling sick

Topical anaesthetics and condoms

The use of topical anaesthetics such as lidocaine or prilocaine can help but may be transferred and absorbed to the vagina, causing decreased sensation. Condoms can also be used and are effective, particularly when combined with local anaesthesia.

Delayed ejaculation

Delayed ejaculation (male orgasmic disorder) is classed as either:

• experiencing a significant delay before ejaculation
• being unable to ejaculate at all, even though the man wants to and his erection is normal

You may have delayed ejaculation if:

• you experience a repeated and unwanted delay before ejaculation lasting for 30 to 60 minutes
• you're unable to ejaculate at least half the times you have sex

Causes of delayed ejaculation

Like premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation can be caused by psychological and physical factors.

Possible psychological causes of delayed ejaculation are similar to those of premature ejaculation – for example, early sexual trauma, strict upbringing, relationship problems, stress or depression.

Physical causes of delayed ejaculation include:

• diabetes (usually only type 1 diabetes)
• spinal cord injuries
• multiple sclerosis
• surgery to the bladder or prostate gland
• increasing age

Many medicines are known to cause delayed ejaculation, including:

• antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• medications to treat high blood pressure, such as beta-blockers
• anti psychotics, used to treat episodes of psychosis 
• muscle relaxants such as balcofen, which is widely used to treat motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis
• powerful painkillers, such as methadone (which is also widely used to treat people addicted to heroin)

Delayed ejaculation can suddenly start to happen after previously having no problems, or (less commonly) the man may have always experienced it.

It can occur in all sexual situations, or only in certain situations. For example, you may be able to ejaculate normally when masturbating, but not during sex. When ejaculation only occurs in certain situations, there's usually a psychological cause.

Treating delayed ejaculation

Sex therapy

Sex therapy is a form of counselling that uses a combination of psychotherapy and structured changes in your sex life. This can help to increase your feeling of enjoyment during sex, and help make ejaculation easier.

Some clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) provide a sex therapy service on the NHS. Availability can vary widely depending on where you live.

You can also pay privately. Prices per session are around £50 to £80. The College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists website provides information about private sex therapists and how to find a therapist in your local area.

The relationship counselling service Relate also offers sex therapy at a number of its centres. You’ll need to pay for each session. 

During sex therapy, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss any emotional or psychological issues related to your sexuality and relationship, in a non-judgmental way.

Activities may also be recommended for you to try at home while you're having sex with your partner (you should never be asked to take part in any sexual activities during a session with the therapist).

These may include:

• viewing erotic videos and magazines before having sex to increase the feeling of stimulation
• erotic fantasies and "sex games" to make your lovemaking more exciting
• using lubricating creams, or jellies, to make the physical act of sex more comfortable and relaxing
• using sexual aids, such as vibrators, to increase pleasure

Read more information about what a sex therapist can do.

Switching medication

There are a number of medications that can be used if it's thought SSRIs are responsible for causing delayed ejaculation. These include:

• amantadine – originally designed to treat viral infections
• buproprion – usually prescribed to help people quit smoking
• yohimbine – originally designed to treat erectile dysfunction

These help block some of the chemical effects of SSRIs that may contribute towards delayed ejaculation.

Alcohol and drugs

Alcohol misuse and drug use can be separate underlying causes of delayed ejaculation, so addressing these problems may help.

Read more about getting help with alcohol misuse and drug use.

Pseudo ephedrine

Pseudo ephedrine tablets may be tried, but these will need to be prescribed "off-label". This means the medicine shows promise in treating delayed ejaculation but it hasn't been licensed for this particular use (pseudo ephedrine is normally used as a decongestant).

Retrograde ejaculation

Retrograde ejaculation is a rarer type of ejaculation problem. It happens when semen travels backwards into the bladder instead of through the urethra (the tube that urine passes through).

The main symptoms of retrograde ejaculation include:

• producing no semen, or only a small amount, during ejaculation
• producing cloudy urine (because of the semen in it) when you first go to the toilet after having sex

Men with retrograde ejaculation still experience the feeling of an orgasm and the condition doesn't pose a danger to health. However, it can affect the ability to father a child.

Causes of retrograde ejaculation

Retrograde ejaculation is caused by damage to the nerves or muscles that surround the neck of the bladder (the point where the urethra connects to the bladder).

Usually when you ejaculate, semen is pushed out of your urethra. It is prevented from entering your bladder by the muscles around the neck of the bladder, which close tightly at the moment of orgasm.

However, damage to the surrounding muscles or nerves can stop the bladder neck closing, causing the semen to move into the bladder rather than up through the urethra.

Prostate gland surgery or bladder surgery is the most common cause of retrograde ejaculation. Other causes are diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and a class of medicines known as alpha blockers, which are often used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Treating retrograde ejaculation

Most men do not need treatment for retrograde ejaculation because they are still able to enjoy a healthy sex life and the condition does not have adverse effects on their health.

But if treatment is required (usually because of wanting to father a child), there are options to try.

For example, pseudoephedrine (commonly used as a decongestant) has proved effective in treating retrograde ejaculation caused by diabetes or surgery.

If retrograde ejaculation is caused by using a certain medication, then normal ejaculation will usually return once medication is stopped. Speak to your GP before stopping any prescribed medication.

However, if the retrograde ejaculation has been caused by significant muscle or nerve damage, treatment may not be possible.

Men who want to have children can have sperm taken from their urine for use in artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Involve your partner

If you're having problems with your sex life and are seeking treatment, it is usually recommended you involve your partner as much as possible.

Communicating your concerns can often go a long way to helping to resolve them. And, in some cases, your partner may also have their own problems that are contributing towards problems with your sex life.

For example, some women are unable to reach climax during "normal" intercourse and require manual or oral stimulation.

Blood in your semen

Finding blood in your semen (haematospermia) can be alarming. However, in most cases it's not serious and will pass within a few days.

The most likely cause is infection of your urethra (urethritis) or prostate (prostatitis).

See your GP or visit your local genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic if the symptoms persist, because the causes may be more serious.