In men, sexual dysfunction typically involves issues with one or more of the following factors:[1][2]
- Interest in sex/arousal
- Getting an erection
- Ejaculation
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In men, sexual dysfunction is typically related to problems with arousal, getting an erection, and/or ejaculating. Sexual dysfunction is complicated and can be caused my many things. Improving diet, exercising more, and identifying underlying factors are all important for treating sexual dysfunction.
Male Sexual Dysfunction falls under the Healthy Aging & Longevity category.
Men who are experiencing sexual dysfunction may have the following symptoms:
Because many of the symptoms (e.g., satisfaction with time to ejaculation, level of interest in sex) are subjective, sexual dysfunction diagnoses are primarily based on what an individual identifies as problematic. A person’s emotions and previous experience can contribute to sexual dysfunction, so a full history and psychiatric evaluation may be useful. Similarly, lab tests can be used to identify or rule out physiological causes of sexual dysfunction.[2]
Depending on the condition, a variety of medical treatments may be used:[2]
Condition | Medical Treatments |
---|---|
Premature ejaculation | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Topical anesthetics (e.g., lidocaine) |
Delayed ejaculation | Cessation of medications that may cause delayed ejaculation (e.g., SSRIs, opioids) |
Erectile dysfunction | Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil) |
Low libido | Testosterone replacement therapy and/or cessation of libido-reducing medications (e.g., SSRIs, opioids) |
Additionally, sexual dysfunction can be secondary to some other issue, such as depression, cardiovascular disease, or hypogonadism (i.e., low testosterone).
A handful of studies have found maca to improve sexual desire in people with and without sexual dysfunction. Additionally, cocoa extract may improve sexual function by supporting vascular health.
A number of other supplements have shown some promise (e.g., fenugreek, yohimbine, tribulus-terrestris, Eurycoma Longifolia Jack), but very little research has been conducted on any of these supplements.
In individuals who are overweight, or have diet-related health conditions like type-2-diabetes, weight loss can markedly improve sexual function.[3]
Regular exercise can improve erectile dysfunction.[3]
Psychotherapy and sex therapy are also effective for treating sexual dysfunction, especially if the dysfunction is caused by a person’s beliefs, previous experiences, or perception of themselves.[2]
Smoking cessation is probably beneficial for erectile dysfunction.[4][5]
If the sexual dysfunction is secondary to another condition, treating that condition may resolve the sexual dysfunction.
“Normal” sexual function requires vascular, neurological, hormonal, and psychological systems to function together. As such, issues with any of these symptoms may produce issues with sexual function.[6]
Sexual dysfunction can be caused by:
In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in men with erectile dysfunction (ED), supplementation with antioxidants decreased ED severity and increased sexual satisfaction to a very small degree. However, the findings were based largely on trials of poor methodological quality.
Men who are experiencing sexual dysfunction may have the following symptoms:
Because many of the symptoms (e.g., satisfaction with time to ejaculation, level of interest in sex) are subjective, sexual dysfunction diagnoses are primarily based on what an individual identifies as problematic. A person’s emotions and previous experience can contribute to sexual dysfunction, so a full history and psychiatric evaluation may be useful. Similarly, lab tests can be used to identify or rule out physiological causes of sexual dysfunction.[2]
Depending on the condition, a variety of medical treatments may be used:[2]
Condition | Medical Treatments |
---|---|
Premature ejaculation | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Topical anesthetics (e.g., lidocaine) |
Delayed ejaculation | Cessation of medications that may cause delayed ejaculation (e.g., SSRIs, opioids) |
Erectile dysfunction | Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil) |
Low libido | Testosterone replacement therapy and/or cessation of libido-reducing medications (e.g., SSRIs, opioids) |
Additionally, sexual dysfunction can be secondary to some other issue, such as depression, cardiovascular disease, or hypogonadism (i.e., low testosterone).
A handful of studies have found maca to improve sexual desire in people with and without sexual dysfunction. Additionally, cocoa extract may improve sexual function by supporting vascular health.
A number of other supplements have shown some promise (e.g., fenugreek, yohimbine, tribulus-terrestris, Eurycoma Longifolia Jack), but very little research has been conducted on any of these supplements.
In individuals who are overweight, or have diet-related health conditions like type-2-diabetes, weight loss can markedly improve sexual function.[3]
Yes. Although a little alcohol might decrease one’s inhibitions and thus increase your libido, too much alcohol acutely (drunkenness) or chronically (alcoholism) can lead to sexual disorders, loss of libido, less intense orgasms, and some degree of erectile dysfunction and a probable reduction in testosterone production in men.
Regular exercise can improve erectile dysfunction.[3]
Psychotherapy and sex therapy are also effective for treating sexual dysfunction, especially if the dysfunction is caused by a person’s beliefs, previous experiences, or perception of themselves.[2]
Smoking cessation is probably beneficial for erectile dysfunction.[4][5]
If the sexual dysfunction is secondary to another condition, treating that condition may resolve the sexual dysfunction.
Like all things, the dose matters! A moderate amount of exercise can increase levels of hormones in the body including testosterone, cortisol, prolactin, and oxytocin — all of which play a role in your sex drive. Exercise also improves blood flow and reduces risk factors for diseases that are associated with sexual dysfunction including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. A weekly exercise duration of 160 minutes has been shown to improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction that were related to improved cardiovascular and metabolic health.[10] Performing pelvic floor (i.e., Kegel) exercises may also strengthen lower pelvic muscles and improve erectile function and satisfaction. On the other hand, extreme levels of exercise may cause libido to fall drastically.
cannabis use is frequently associated with feelings of euphoria that may enhance mood, increase sexual desire, and boost arousal — leading to a better sexual experience. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research on the effects of cannabis on sexual function. Some studies suggest that erectile-dysfunction is higher in cannabis users compared to nonusers.[11] There is also contradictory evidence that cannabis may enhance erectile function or diminish erectile function,[12] and that cannabis may be associated with increased reports of an inability to reach orgasm, reach orgasm too quickly, or reach orgasm too slowly.[13]
“Normal” sexual function requires vascular, neurological, hormonal, and psychological systems to function together. As such, issues with any of these symptoms may produce issues with sexual function.[6]
Sexual dysfunction can be caused by:
erectile-dysfunction can be caused by physical factors (such as impaired blood flow to the penis) or psychological factors. Psychological erectile dysfunction can often be caused by personal, professional, or emotional stressors, as well as the pressure to perform sexually (or even obtain an erection in the first place). Fortunately, stress management techniques, when added to traditional erectile dysfunction treatment, can improve symptoms of stress and erectile dysfunction.[8]
While low testosterone is linked to symptoms of sexual dysfunction, having low testosterone does not always lead to low libido or erectile dysfunction, since these conditions can also have several other causes. Men can also experience sexual dysfunction with high or normal levels of testosterone. Because testosterone levels decline with age and are associated with sexual dysfunction symptoms, the two are often incorrectly causally linked. In men with low testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy has been shown to have only mild effects on erectile function and sexual satisfaction but large effects on libido.[9]