Six Sexual Problems In Males: What They Are & How To Treat Them

Written by the UPGUYS Editorial Team

Published on March 17, 2022

Every male-bodied person knows that sexual problems in men are inevitable, and they happen from time to time. But, what most men don't know is that it is so common. The social stigma, embarrassment, and fear of judgement cause men not to open up and share the sexual frustrations and challenges they face. 

Almost half of the men in Canada alone have experienced sexual dysfunction. This number shows how common this condition is. The problem is that by not discussing this issue enough, men don't realize that they can easily avoid the symptoms of these sexual dysfunctions most of the time.

Among the unshared male sexual problems, erectile dysfunction (ED) has still gotten the most attention. But what are the rest of the male sexual dysfunctions, why do they happen and what treatments are available? 

This article wants to briefly look at six sexual problems in males and what treatments are out there to address these issues. If you are here for a better understanding of these male sexual problems, keep reading to the end of the article. 

In this article, we talk about:

1. Erectile dysfunction: Definition and treatment
2. Premature ejaculation: Definition and treatment
3. Delayed (impaired) ejaculation: Definition and treatment
4. Low testosterone: Definition and treatment
5. Peyronie's disease: Definition and treatment
6. Low sexual desire: Definition and treatment

Read more: Ways To Boost & Improve Sexual Performace: For Men

1- Erectile dysfunction: Definition and treatment

As briefly mentioned above, erectile dysfunction has been talked about the most among other male sexual issues. Erectile dysfunction is when a male-bodied person cannot get or maintain an erection long enough for sexual intercourse. 

Urologist Jay Simhan, MD, associate chair of the urology department at Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia, believes that a normal erection might last up to 10 minutes. Of course, many people have longer or shorter erections. 

Many underlying physical or psychological problems cause erectile dysfunction in males. Some are listed below:

Physical problems:

1. heart disease
2. diabetes
3. clogged blood vessels
4. obesity
5. high cholesterol
6. metabolic syndrome 
7. Parkinson's disease

Psychological reasons:

1. stress and anxiety
2. depression
3. guilt
4. fear
5. low body-image
6. relationship issues
7. sleep disorder
8. performance anxiety

There are a variety of treatments for ED, including:

1. Oral medications & delay sprays. These medications are all prescription medications, except for delay spray, which is over-the-counter.
2. Testosterone Therapy, if low testosterone is detected in blood testing.
3. Penile Injections
4. Intraurethral medication
5. Penis pumps, where the blood rushes into the penis and makes the erection possible by creating a vacuum.
6. Penile implants, where some devices are surgically implanted in the penis to control erection, ejaculation, and the firmness of the penis.

2- Premature ejaculation: Definition and treatment

Premature ejaculation is when a male-bodied person ejaculates before they or their partner desire and are ready. It should be mentioned here that most men experience premature ejaculation in their lives. But, it is not a cause for concern if it doesn't happen on a regular basis. But, if you feel you are frequently having this problem, you need to talk to your healthcare provider.

You might have premature ejaculation if you:

1. almost always ejaculate too early, that is up to one minute after penetration.
2. cannot delay ejaculation during penetration.
3. avoid sexual intercourse altogether due to the stress of ejaculating too early.

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, go to your doctor and see what medications they prescribe for you to address this issue. But, in the meantime:

1. Talk to your partner to ultimately decrease the level of stress.
2. Masturbate. Remember that practice makes perfect.
3. Use desensitizers and condoms.
4. Use the squeeze technique. In this technique, you withdraw your penis once close to orgasm. With your fingers, put some pressure on top of your penis (where the glans meet the shaft). After orgasm passes, continue with the penetration.

Read more: Last Longer In Bed: Tips On How To UP Your Game

3- Delayed (impaired) ejaculation: Definition and treatment

About 1-4 percent of men experience delayed (impaired) ejaculation. In this male sexual problem, it takes a long time of sexual stimulation for the man to reach climax and ejaculate. 

The treatment for this sexual dysfunction is not straightforward. If the SSRIs are the cause, an alternative drug may be prescribed instead. If alcohol or drugs are the reasons, they should be eliminated. But, there are still a couple of medications that have shown results:

1. Cyproheptadine (Periactin): Used for allergies
2. Amantadine (Symmetrel): Used for Parkinson's
3. Buspirone (Buspar): An anti-anxiety medication

4- Low testosterone: Definition and treatment

Testosterone is a hormone produced in men's bodies, and it's vital for sexual function. This is the hormone that helps male bodies develop male features. 

If the testosterone level is low in a person, the symptoms might include but are not limited to low sexual desire, ED, infertility, depression, and fatigue. 

The reasons why the testosterone level might drop can be testes injury or infection, chemotherapy, alcohol abuse, chronic illnesses, obesity, AIDS of HIV, and many more.

There are various treatments available for this condition, including:

1. Gels
2. Injections
3. Implantable pellets
4. Buccal cavity

If you want to know more about this condition, why it happens, what the symptoms are, and how you can treat it in more detail, click on the link below.

5- Peyronie's disease: Definition and treatment

Peyronie's disease is a condition that happens from fibrous scar tissue that develops on the penis. As a result of that, the erections are curved and painful. They also might lose length or girth. Although, it is essential to mention that a lot of men have curves in their penis. It is not to be concerned about if it has been there forever.

Peyronie's disease has an acute phase, lasting between six to twelve months, and a chronic phase, where the scar has stopped growing.

Peyronie's disease is a type of penile curvature. As mentioned above, some men have penile curvature from birth. The difference is that it is not caused by a scar, and it doesn't change over time. 

This disease can be caused by age, genetics, Ed, prostate cancer, or autoimmune disorders.

If your penis curvature is small and it causes no pain or trouble during sex, you should be fine. But, generally speaking, there are no treatments for Peyronie's disease, though there are ways to improve the changes in the penis, including stretch therapy (traction), medications and even surgeries.

6- Low sexual desire: Definition and treatment

Low sexual desire, or low libido, is when you don't have any or enough interest to have sex, do not get any pleasurable sensations when your genitals are stimulated, you do not initiate sex or have no sexual fantasies.

In order to address this sexual problem, you can do the following:

1.  Go to your doctor to change your prescriptions if it started by taking specific medications.
2. Incorporate a healthier lifestyle into your life and routines, specifically your diet, exercise, and sleeping habits.
3. Go to a sex therapist or counselling.
4. Check to see if you need testosterone replacement therapy.

Read more:Can I Reverse Erectile Dysfunction? A How-To Guide To Get Back On The Track