Delayed ejaculation | Private and judgement-free
Taking too long to finish, or not finishing at all?
Delayed ejaculation is far less talked about than premature ejaculation, but it can be just as frustrating for you and your partner. A private consultation with George Mulaudzi, Naturopath looks at the medication, health, habits and stress that often sit behind it.
Some men find it takes a very long time to climax during sex. Others can ejaculate alone but not with a partner, or not at all. Sex can start to feel like hard work, partners may worry they are the problem, and many men begin to avoid intimacy altogether.
The good news is that there is usually an identifiable reason, and many of those reasons can be changed. If ejaculation feels weaker rather than delayed, see weak ejaculation; if it happens too quickly, see premature ejaculation.
Common causes of delayed ejaculation
Medication
Some antidepressants (especially SSRIs), antipsychotics, blood pressure tablets and strong painkillers can delay or block ejaculation. Medications and sexual function.
Alcohol and recreational drugs
Alcohol dulls the nerve signals involved in climax, and regular heavy drinking makes this worse. Alcohol and sexual performance.
Masturbation habits and porn
A very particular grip, speed or routine, or heavy porn use, can make partnered sex less stimulating. Porn and sexual function.
Stress, anxiety and relationship factors
Performance pressure, trying to conceive on a schedule, unresolved conflict or low attraction can all hold climax back.
Health conditions
Diabetes, nerve damage, low testosterone and thyroid problems can affect ejaculation. Diabetes and sexual health.
Surgery and age
Prostate or pelvic surgery and natural ageing can reduce sensation and change how ejaculation works.
Related problems men describe
| What you notice | What it may be |
|---|---|
| Climax takes much longer than you or your partner would like | Delayed ejaculation |
| You cannot ejaculate at all, alone or with a partner | Anejaculation |
| You climax but little or no semen comes out, and urine afterwards is cloudy | Possible retrograde ejaculation (semen flowing back into the bladder) |
| Ejaculation feels weak or the volume has dropped | Weak ejaculation |
| You used to be able to ejaculate but now cannot | A change worth investigating |
See a doctor first if you have:
- Pain when ejaculating, or blood in your semen
- Little or no semen after prostate surgery, or with diabetes
- A sudden change after starting a new medication
- Numbness in the genitals, buttocks or legs, or bladder or bowel changes
- Problems ejaculating while trying to conceive
Never stop or change prescribed medication without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it.
How we help
1
Private consultation
30 to 60 minutes with George, in person in Sandton or by video, with no judgement and no topic off-limits.
2
Find the pattern
When it started, whether it happens alone and with a partner, medication, alcohol, habits, stress and health conditions.
3
Personal natural plan
Natural remedies, practical changes to habits and arousal, stress and sleep support, and guidance for you as a couple.
4
Follow-up and referral
Follow-ups to track progress, and referral to your doctor where medication changes or tests are needed.
Our scope, stated plainly
Sandton Men’s Clinic is a naturopathic practice. We do not prescribe or change medication, and we do not run tests in-house.
If your medication may be the cause, we help you prepare for a conversation with your prescribing doctor. We work on the lifestyle, habit, stress and natural factors, and refer you whenever a medical cause needs checking. Naturopath or doctor: who to see.
Delayed ejaculation self-check
Five quick questions. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere.
1. Does it usually take much longer to climax than you or your partner would like?
2. Can you ejaculate more easily on your own than with a partner?
3. Do you take antidepressants or other regular prescription medication?
4. Do you drink alcohol most days, or more than 14 units a week?
5. Do you have pain, blood in your semen, or little or no semen when you climax?
Why it happens and what helps Weak ejaculation ›
Causes and natural support Premature ejaculation ›
When climax comes too soon Low libido ›
Desire, energy and hormones Talking to your partner ›
How to start the conversation Online consultation ›
Video consult from anywhere in SA
Delayed ejaculation questions
What counts as delayed ejaculation?
Delayed ejaculation is when it takes a long time, or is not possible, to ejaculate during sex despite enough stimulation and wanting to, and this happens most of the time and causes distress. There is no exact cut-off in minutes; what matters is that it bothers you or your partner.
Can antidepressants cause delayed ejaculation?
Yes. Some antidepressants, especially SSRIs, are among the most common causes. Never stop or change prescribed medication on your own. Speak to the doctor who prescribed it, as there are often alternatives or adjustments.
Can porn or masturbation habits cause it?
They can contribute. A very specific masturbation style, grip or speed, or heavy porn use, can make partnered sex feel less stimulating. Gradually changing these habits often helps, and it is something we discuss openly and without judgement.
Is delayed ejaculation linked to low testosterone or diabetes?
It can be. Low testosterone, diabetes, nerve damage and some prostate or pelvic surgery can all affect ejaculation. That is why a full health history, and tests through your doctor where needed, are part of finding the cause.
Can my partner be involved?
Yes, if you both want that. Delayed ejaculation often affects both partners, and talking about it together, in person or on a video call, can take a lot of the pressure off.
Take the pressure off
Private, one-on-one, in Sandton or by video, open 24/7. Booking does not commit you to any treatment.
Sources
- Shindel AW et al. Disorders of Ejaculation: AUA/SMSNA Guideline, 2020.
- Althof SE, McMahon CG. Contemporary management of disorders of male orgasm and ejaculation. Urology, 2016.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), delayed ejaculation criteria.
Written and reviewed by George Mulaudzi, Naturopath, Sandton Men’s Clinic, 199 Vanessa Street, Buccleuch, Sandton, Gauteng 2090 | +27 10 205 9208. This page is general information and does not replace a consultation or medical care. Individual results vary, and no outcome can be guaranteed.