Delayed Ejaculation

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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Most men ejaculate within 2 to 4 minutes after onset of active thrusting in intercourse. Men with retarded ejaculation may be entirely unable to ejaculate in some circumstances (for example, during intercourse), or may only be able to ejaculate with great effort and after prolonged intercourse (for example 30 to 45 minutes).

The most common causes are psychological. Common psychological causes include:

• A strict religious background causing the person to view sex as sinful
• Lack of attraction for a partner
• Conditioning caused by unique or atypical masturbation patterns
• Traumatic events (such as being discovered in masturbation or illicit sex, or learning one's partner is having an affair)

Some factors such as anger toward the partner may be involved; however, organic causes are sometimes present. A variety of drugs (such as Prozac, Mellaril and guanethidine) may sometimes impair ejaculation. Neurological disease may also cause delayed or inability to ejaculate such as strokes and nerve damage to the spinal cord or back.