Male anorgasmia: what it is and how to solve it

Surely you have heard that women have difficulties reaching orgasm during sexual encounters, but what you may not know is that men do so, and it’s called male anorgasmia. You may be wondering how to know if you have anorgasmia. Well; Have you experienced decreased pleasure intensity? Are you not enjoying your sexual encounter despite ejaculating? If you want to know how to identify if you are experiencing anorgasmia, keep reading.

What is male anorgasmia?

Anorgasmia is the absence or the difficulty to reach the climax during sexual intercourse. It is important to note that the lack of ejaculation (or anejaculation) is not the same as the absence of male orgasm, although they are often closely linked, since many men reach orgasm through ejaculation. 

However, the following concepts should be kept in mind:

•  Anejaculation : defined as the inability to ejaculate despite sexual stimulation.

•  Delayed ejaculation: there is a difficulty in ejaculating despite sexual stimulation.

• Retrograde ejaculation: ejaculation is not expelled outward, but is directed inward into the bladder.

•  ‘Tantric’ ejaculation: this is a technique that aims at not expelling the ejaculation and thus prolonging the encounter. 

All of them have in common the total or partial absence of ejaculation, but this doesn’t mean that there has to be a lack of orgasm or pleasure. Male orgasm is related to the contractions that occur during sexual response, which provide the sensation of pleasure. Generally, both processes, ejaculation and male orgasm, occur at the same time, although they can also occur separately.

It should be added that anorgasmia is not synonymous with impotence or erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction refers to the inability to achieve or maintain erection during encounters, while anorgasmia is the absence of orgasm. However, the best way to understand what male anorgasmia is, is knowing its possible symptoms.

Of course, symptoms will always be different depending on each person and many specific characteristics, but there are a number of common signs for the vast majority that can serve as a guide:

•  Inability to reach orgasm despite sexual arousal.

• Difficulty ejaculating and absence of pleasure during ejaculations.

• Avoidance or disinclination to initiate sexual encounters. 

• The attitude toward sex is one of frustration, irritation, or even anxiety. 

• Relationship damaged by communication problems and inability to face reality. 

To better understand these nuances, check out the following point.

Types of anorgasmia in men

There are different types of anorgasmia, which we can classify depending on the origin and intensity. 

By origin, we refer to the moment in which the anorgasmia began to occur, distinguishing between primary and secondary :

• Primary anorgasmia: people who have never experienced an orgasm, neither during intercourse nor self-stimulation.

• Secondary anorgasmia: people that have had orgasms throughout their lives but have stopped experiencing them at some point.

If we look at the intensity or presence of anorgasmia in certain situations, the classification would be as follows: 

• Relative anorgasmia: orgasm can be reached through certain practices or erotic stimulation techniques, for example, only through masturbation or exclusively with a partner.

• Situational anorgasmia: the person reaches climax in specific situations or circumstances, such as closed spaces, dark environments, etc.

• Absolute anorgasmia: refers to the total inability to reach orgasm in any way.

Causes of male anorgasmia

When we talk about the causes of anorgasmia in men, we have to understand that it can be a consequence of psychological, physiological, neurological or even medical factors. In short, each case is particular, but we can make the following classification:

 1. Psychological factors 

Stress is the main reason for loss of desire, which affects our libido. Likewise, depressed moods have similar consequences. It should be noted that there may be a total absence of orgasms if the intensity of these psychological states increases.

Here we can also include relationship problems, low self-esteem, strict religious beliefs, high sexual expectations and traumas related to sexuality. In general, all psychological reasons that can alter our state of mind.

 2. Physiological factors 

Variations in testosterone levels can also affect your sexual activity, particularly sharp drops. Although they are more common with age, especially after turning 50, pronounced drops can occur in young people for other reasons. One of these is hypogonadism, a condition that results in low or no testosterone production. There are also problems related to low sensitivity to erotic stimulation, as in the case of people who have undergone genital surgery.

3. Neurological factors 

Diseases such as diabetes in very advanced stages, sclerosis or myelitis, can lead to anorgasmia. However, these reasons are usually the least common.

4. Drugs and other substances

The consumption of some treatments is often linked to a loss in the sensation of pleasure, which in extreme cases can lead to anorgasmia in men. The medications that most often cause this are antidepressants.

On the other hand, the abuse of certain substances, such as alcohol and cannabis, affect the quality of our sexual activity, leading, once again, to anorgasmia.

But, is there a solution for male anorgasmia?

Treatments for anorgasmia in men

The fact that there are so many elements that affect or interfere with anorgasmia implies that there are multiple treatments and methodologies to solve it, so the effectiveness of each one of them depends on the origin of the problem.

It should be made clear that there is no specific treatment for male anorgasmia. Most likely, a broad approach is needed to help us improve our sex life from all possible areas, both physical and mental. For it, a common guideline we can offer you is about introspection: Do I only get sexual pleasure through orgasm? Are my encounters less satisfying if I don’t reach the climax? And so on. Our head is full of beliefs that generate high pressure and do not allow us to move forward.

This does not mean that it is not necessary to go to a professional. A specialist has the necessary knowledge to determine the cause and know which is the treatment that best suits your characteristics.

Usually, when it comes to stress or depression, pleasure, intensity and quality of orgasms are gained again. Something similar happens when male anorgasmia is caused by drugs and/or pharmaceuticals, which remits when the consumption of these is stopped. With therapy, it is possible to alleviate and reduce these factors to recover our sexual activity.

But, what are the topics addressed in therapy? On one hand, sex education is usually necessary to get rid of those beliefs that are not true about our sexuality. This usually has a positive impact on our self-esteem, which is closely linked to our capacity for enjoyment. On the other hand, during the sessions we can develop skills and strategies to improve and increase our pleasure during encounters, both individually and as a couple.

Conclusion

Anorgasmia is, without a doubt, something that can worry us, but we have to remember that our sexuality goes far beyond orgasm.