Male Sexual Concerns

Sexuality in any given man or woman is a complex process.  This process includes neurological and psychological factors, the blood and endocrine systems, family and upbringing, societal and religious beliefs, and the age, health status and personal experience of the person.  In addition, sexual activity normally includes interpersonal involvement.  A problem in any of these areas can evidence itself as a male sexual problem.

There are variations in individual male sexual functioning and there is no one standard that a man must meet for his sexual functioning to be considered normal.  If you experience a sexual issue that troubles you, then it is a problem for which you should seek help.

Erectile Disorder is the recurrent inability to achieve or maintain an adequate erection until completion of sexual activity.  The key words here are "recurrent" and "completion".  Most men experience occasions when they are not able to achieve an erection.  While each occurrence is typically a concern for the man, it is not considered a male erectile disorder if the problem occurs only occasionally.  The other word "completion" relates to the ability to enter the woman and achieve orgasm.  Given the great variation in individual functioning, it does not mean that the man needs to maintain the erection for a lengthy period of time.

Premature ejaculation is the persistent experience of ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation before or immediately after penetration.  Given the exaggerated picture of male sexuality prevalent in today's society, many men mistakenly believe they ejaculate prematurely when in fact ejaculation takes place within what is considered to be the average length of time, approximated 2-3 minutes after vaginal penetration.

Performance anxiety is a very common male sexual problem.  Performance anxiety is the man's fear and anxiety that he will not "perform" adequately.  This fear and anxiety becomes a block to sexual feelings and thoughts.  Sexual performance anxiety can result in a man avoiding sexual encounters, having lowered self-esteem and experiencing actual, rather than just feared, sexual dysfunction.

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder may exist when a man does not have a desire for sex and is not interested in the sexual advances of his partner.

Often, the inability to achieve an erection or premature ejaculation is a temporary response to stress or anxiety or anger as well as to loss of confidence, depression and even the normal ageing process.  There are physical causes which should be considered and any attempt to deal with a male sexual problem should include a complete evaluation by a physician.  However, in the majority of situations involving erectile problems and premature ejaculation, the problem arises from psychological factors and from fear that the problem will happen again.  In many cases, erectile failure is intermittent and is dependent upon the specific partner, the nature of the relationship of the man and woman, and the frame of mind of the male at the time of sexual intimacy.

Male sexual problems and concerns can be due to psychological, psychosocial and/or physical factors or any combination of these.  Careful attention to these issues and attempts to relieve sexual anxieties should be a part of any therapeutic intervention.

Male sexual problems can occur in most or just some settings, may occur at a specific time in life or in response to a specific situation, or can be lifelong in duration.  Determining the cause of the problem can be especially important in the treatment of sexual problems since they may have a chemical or biological cause which will require medical intervention.  Accordingly, a comprehensive examination by a physician should always occur before any therapeutic treatment is started.

The types of treatment for male sexual problems typically emphasize behavioral techniques and may include relaxation techniques, hormone treatment, and medication. Reality therapy and cognitive therapy are  also used.  Sex education can help the man to realize that his "problem" may be a normal part of the male sexual response.  Sex education can also assist the man and his partner to learn behavioral techniques to help reduce problems.  

For more information about male sexual concerns, please click on the linked websites listed below.

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