Inhibited/Retarded

There are two contrasting male orgasmic dysfunctions, both that affect the man’s control of his ejaculation capability. The most common of these ejaculatory control dysfunctions is premature ejaculation but, for many men and in such cases equally distressing, is the less well documented condition of Inhibited (or Retarded) Ejaculation. This condition may also sometimes be referred to as Ejaculatory Incompetence in some medical communities. These descriptions, and the sexual dysfunction itself, should not be confused with Retrograde Ejaculation which is a medical condition where ejaculation occurs, but backwards into the bladder, where it is mixed with urine.

Whether the dysfunction is referred to as Inhibited or Retarded Ejaculation, or indeed by the term Ejaculatory Incompetence, the symptoms are similar and characterised by the inability to ejaculate during sexual intercourse despite a full erection and relatively high levels of sexual arousal.

Retarded Ejaculation is the term used to describe the condition when the causes of the problem are due to physical, or medical, factors (e.g. side-effects of some medications, high alcohol consumption, heavy smoking, recreational or addictive drugs, etc.). Inhibited Ejaculation, on the other hand, is the term used to describe the absence of ejaculation occurring during sexual intercourse when there are no apparent medical or physical causes for the problem.

Some men have never experienced orgasm with ejaculation during sexual intercourse; some have never experienced orgasm with ejaculation during any form of sexual stimulation with a partner (i.e. “foreplay”). A smaller number of men have never experienced orgasm with ejaculation through any type of sexual stimulation, including solo masturbation. Other men who present for sexual therapy with this presenting complaint may have been able to ejaculate in the past, but have experienced current or more recent difficulties in this area of their sexual life.

Although inhibited or retarded ejaculation may, at first, seem preferable over premature ejaculation this, in practice, is not the case. It can adversely affect relationships, especially if the man’s partner perceives his lack of ejaculation as being an indicator of a lack of pleasure, arousal or attraction towards her. In other relationships, the dysfunction may create too great a physical and sexual demand upon the man’s partner. In the cases where a relationship has broken under the strain of this particular sexual dysfunction, the man may lack the confidence to enter into a new relationship and may feel like “giving up” even in everyday situations.

Although Inhibited Ejaculation is the least well documented of male sexual dysfunctions, it can be successfully treated through Surrogate Partner Therapy. Compared with other male sexual dysfunctions, however, this complaint has a strikingly lower success rate. During a study in the year 2001, conducted at The School of ICASA, 39.4% of clients who presented with Inhibited Ejaculation achieved the maximum possible therapeutic gain, compared to an average of 88.03% who achieved the maximum gain when presenting with the complaints of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and non-consummation. There are identifiable reasons for the comparatively lower efficacy, some of which are due to personality and behavioural patterns which cause some clients to discontinue therapy before resolution – ironically, a personality trait which is resonates with the symptoms of the presenting complaint itself!

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