Anhedonic Ejaculation: One of the Most Frustrating Penis Problems

One of the benefits of reaching puberty is that a man at last gets to experience the incomparable feeling of a sexual orgasm. The body is finally ready to take him through arousal, erection, increased stimulation and all the way to an orgasmic ejaculation. And as long as penis health is maintained and there are no other penis problems (or health issues impacting penile performance), a man is primed for a multitude of orgasmic ejaculations throughout his life. Unfortunately, some men may experience something called anhedonic ejaculation, which can have a serious dampening effect on his enjoyment of sex, whether by himself or with a partner.

Not premature

Anhedonic ejaculation is not at all the same thing as premature ejaculation, which is one of the more common penis problems that a man may encounter. With premature ejaculation, a man finds that he releases his semen too early. In terms of clinical definitions, “too early” means that less than one minute passes between the penetration of the penis into the vagina and the release of semen. In practice, however, the length of time defining premature ejaculation depends upon the point of view of the man – and of his partner as well.

Anhedonic ejaculation is also different from other penis problems, such as retrograde ejaculation or anejaculation.

About anhedonic ejaculation

So then, what is anhedonic ejaculation? Simply put, this describes a situation in which a man ejaculates, but he doesn’t experience that wonderful orgasmic sensation that is associated with ejaculation. (Anhedonic essentially means “without pleasure.”)

It’s easy to see why this is one of the more frustrating penis problems. Although men engage in sex for a variety of reasons (including as a way to have a deeper connection and relationship with a loved one), one of the primary attractions of sex is the orgasm. Without that orgasm, a man may not have as much interest in sex. His libido may wane or his frustration at not being able to orgasm may bring about erectile issues. He may also feel somehow less a man if he can ejaculate but without pleasure.

Not ruined

It’s important to note that difference between anhedonic ejaculation and what is called a “ruined orgasm.” The former is a chronic issue, whereas the latter is something which may occur from time to time. With a ruined orgasm, the source of penile stimulation (a hand, a vagina, a mouth, etc.) is removed from the penis just slightly too soon; the penis is still so stimulated that it ejaculates, but without that little extra stimulation, there is a decrease in or an absence of pleasurable feeling.

Causes

Anhedonic ejaculation occurs when the brain stops releasing a sufficient amount of dopamine during ejaculation. This can be caused by several factors, including use of certain antidepressants. Low testosterone levels are also often blamed, and depression or other mental health issues can also bring about this condition. Some men who suffer spinal cord injuries may be more likely to develop anhedonic ejaculation.

Men with anhedonic ejaculation should consult with a doctor to help pinpoint the likely cause of the problem. When that is discovered, the doctor can advise what steps to take for treatment.

Penis problems such as anhedonic ejaculation can be difficult to solve, but success is likely to be aided when the penis is otherwise in good health. Daily application of a top drawer penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can be helpful in this regard. When searching, look for an oil that include L-arginine and L-carnitine. The former is an amino acid which boosts nitric oxide production and helps keep penile blood vessels open. The latter has neuroprotective properties which can be valuable in helping to maintain proper penis sensation.

Unusual Penis Problems to Avoid: Anhedonic Ejaculation

Paying careful attention to penis health often prevents many common penis problems, especially in terms of penis skin issues or fighting off rank odor in the area. But some penis problems are more difficult to attack. One of these is anhedonic ejaculation, a fortunately uncommon condition but one which can be very concerning (and frustrating) for those who suffer from it.

Regular ejaculation

Ejaculation, of course, is something that all men are familiar with. Starting in puberty, males manufacture semen, which is expelled from the body through the penis in the process called ejaculation. In some cases, a man may have an issue with ejaculating earlier than he wants (or perhaps earlier than his partner wants), which is premature ejaculation. In other instances, a man may experience the opposite problem, taking far too long to ejaculate.

But with both of these penis problems, when the man ejaculates, he usually still experiences that tingling, pleasurable sensation that is readily identifiable as an orgasm. But such is not the case with anhedonic ejaculation.

Instead, when a man experiences anhedonic ejaculation, the semen spurts out, just as it does "typically," but without the joyous orgasmic feeling. And without that orgasm, a man’s engagement in sex is severely limited.

Causes

Why does a man experience anhedonic ejaculation? Scientists are still puzzling over this. On the most basic level, what seems to happen is that a man’s brain for some reason stops releasing the chemical dopamine, or stops releasing it in amounts sufficient to create an orgasmic feeling. Dopamine plays a big role in the creation or understanding of pleasurable signals, so without dopamine, the ejaculation is largely clinical rather than pleasurable.

Several factors may come into play to bring about this dopamine deprivation. One of these may be a side effect caused by people who are taking the drug desipramine. This medication is an antidepressant, and some doctors believe other antidepressants may also have the potential to cause this problem. But exactly why it occurs in some taking the drug and not in others is un known.

It’s also believed that low levels of testosterone may be responsible, and sometimes those suffering from a spinal cord injury or surgery on the spinal cord may fall prey to anhedonic ejaculation. And there are some patients who may be suffering from a severe depression or other mental issue which may express itself in this avenue.

Treatment

Diagnosis of anhedonic ejaculation requires this to be a consistent or recurring issue; in other words, a man may have this experience once or twice without it actually being a cause for alarm. But for those for whom it is an issue, a doctor’s aid is suggested. Changing mediations, raising testosterone or utilizing psychotherapy are among the methods often used to help treat this most frustrating of penis problems. (A reminder: Those on antidepressants or other medications that they think may be responsible for this issue should not make changes to their medication without first consulting their doctor.)

Penis problems can vary significantly from one man to another, from anhedonic ejaculation to unattractive bumps to any number of rashes. That’s why a man needs to enhance his penis health via the regular application of a first rate penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Every man likes his penis to look its best, so use of a crème with superior moisturizing ingredients, such as vitamin E and shea butter, is essential. The skin will also look more imposing if the crème contains alpha lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant which fights the oxidative stress caused by excess free radicals.

Penis Problems 101: Explaining Anhedonic Ejaculation

Most men go through life without any surprise penis problems that they simply can’t explain. After all, most penis problems stem from irritation, soreness and the like. Some men might even deal with medical conditions or prostate problems that bring their penis problems to the fore. But sometimes, a man can seem perfectly fine and engage in excellent penis care only to discover a very strange penis problem that makes him wonder if everything is okay. Anhedonic ejaculation is one of those situations that can make a man feel entirely confused about his penis health.

What is anhedonic ejaculation?

For most men, the feeling of orgasm accompanied ejaculation. In fact, they happen so close together that a man might think they are one and the same - but they are not. The sensation of orgasm and the act of ejaculation are two different processes. Some men might notice that occasionally they have the feeling of orgasm but nothing comes out. This is actually a rather normal thing that might happen from time to time.

Anhedonic ejaculation, on the other hand, is the opposite - it’s the act of ejaculation but without the underlying pleasure that comes from orgasm. A man might notice that his body does what he expects, but he feels rather removed from the experience. Anhedonic ejaculation can feel very clinical, because that’s exactly what it is! Without the feeling of pleasure to accompany it, it’s simply a bodily function, much like urination might feel.

What causes these penis problems?

Anhedonic ejaculation isn’t fully understood, but scientists have some leads as to what causes the problem. Many men who suffer from this condition are found to be on antidepressant medications, or have a long history of depression, even if they are not on medications for it. Other causes might include very low levels of testosterone, a spinal cord injury or some sexual dysfunction conditions, such as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (though this last cause is rather rare for men).

What can a man do about it?

It is very important to remember that if this happens only occasionally, it’s nothing to worry about. Every man’s body is different, and sometimes will go through phases and changes that can lead to temporary penis problems like anhedonic ejaculation.

However, if the problem seems to be very consistent, that’s a red flag that needs to be called to the attention of a doctor. In a man is on medications, changing those to something else might do the trick. If he’s dealing with depression, sometimes psychotherapy can help him overcome whatever might be holding back the sensation he craves. Other issues can be solved by looking at the underlying problem; for instance, someone with very low testosterone levels could benefit from hormone replacement therapy, and someone with a spinal cord injury might benefit from working with a physical therapist.

Remember, if a guy is on medication, he should continue taking it until making a visit to the doctor. Some antidepressants (assuming that’s the culprit) should be changed very gradually, on a tapered schedule, to avoid nasty side effects.

Finally, a guy can remove any question of his penis skin health by using a top-notch penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . Look for a crème that is kind to the skin with plenty of Shea butter and vitamin E, as well as vitamins D and C for better tissue health. A crème containing L-carnitine is great as well; this amino acid is proven to help protect against peripheral nerve damage, which could be part of the reason for adhedonic ejaculation.