When Ejaculation Becomes the Goal in Itself: A Psychodynamic Approach to Delayed Ejaculation

There are a group of men with delayed ejaculation (DE) where the etiology as well as the consequences of the dysfunction are unclear. The aim of the present study was to explore, from a psychodynamic perspective, personality traits among men seeking treatment due to DE. During a 2.5-year period, a consecutive series of 14 men with DE were seeking help at Karolinska University hospital, Sweden. Full medical history and physical examination, sexological case-history and psychological assessments were performed by physicians and a psychotherapist. The results found all patients to be healthy. Mean age was 34 years (range 20–43 years). No other sexual dysfunction occurred. With one exception, they were sexually active. The psychological assessment (The Karolinska Psychodynamic Profile; KAPP) found patients to have difficulties in areas of dependency and separation, control and impulse control, regression in the service of the ego, coping with aggressive affects, alexithymic traits, sexual function, and satisfaction. The results add a deeper understanding of personality traits among healthy patients with DE, which may be a tool for the case history, and offer new treatment strategies. We suggest that DE can be the physical manifestation of some specific personality difficulties, and thus, ejaculation becomes the goal in itself and not the climax of an enjoyable adventure.

Systematic review and meta-analysis for the value of thyroid disorder screening in men with ejaculatory dysfunction

Objective: To demonstrate evidence from available clinical studies to clarify the scientific points that have been achieved in relation to thyroid disorders and ejaculatory dysfunction. Data sources: Clinical trial articles published in English on Medline. Eligibility criteria: Clinical studies that investigated the association of thyroid disorders with the ejaculatory function of subjects and the trials evaluating the effect of thyroid dysfunction treatment on the ejaculatory function of the subjects were eligible. Synthesis methods: We searched Medline with “ejaculation” and different combinations of “thyroid,” “serum TSH,” “serum T3,” “serum T4” keywords in PubMed. Results: Standardized mean serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in premature ejaculation (PE) sufferers differed from non-PE control subjects (p=.05). Hyperthyroidism was associated with increased odds among PE subjects (OR=2.0, p=.03). Delayed ejaculation was seen with increased odds in hypothyroid patients compared with hyperthyroidism patients (OR=57, p=.0001). Serum TSH and mean intra-vaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) of the subjects showed a correlation both before and after treatment for thyroid disorder. Treatment of thyroid disorders improved the mean IELT measures of the subjects. The overall estimate of the effect of hyperthyroidism treatment on mean IELT was .64 (p=.0001) in the random-effects model. Limitations: The low quality and quantity of evidence from available studies limited the interpretation of our study findings. Conclusions: The causal relationship between ejaculatory dysfunction and thyroid disorders remains to be clarified. Sufferers of delayed ejaculation acquired PE subjects, and PE sufferers who have accompanying erectile dysfunction and/or anxiety may benefit from thyroid disorder investigation.

Delayed Ejaculation After Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Claims Database Analysis

Study Design: Retrospective cohort. Objectives: Delayed ejaculation (DE) is a distressing condition characterized by a notable delay in ejaculation or complete inability to achieve ejaculation, and there are no existing reports of DE following lumbar spine surgery. Inspired by our institutional experience, we sought to assess national rates of DE following surgery of the lumbar spine. Methods: We queried the Optum De-identified Clinformatics Database for adult men undergoing surgery of the lumbar spine between 2003 and 2017. The primary outcome was the development of DE within 2 years of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with the development of DE. Results: We identified 117 918 men who underwent 162 646 lumbar spine surgeries, including anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), posterior lumbar fusion (PLF), and more. The overall incidence of DE was 0.09%, with the highest rate among ALIF surgeries at 0.13%. In multivariable analysis, the odds of developing DE did not vary between anterior/lateral lumbar interbody fusion, PLF, and other spine surgeries. A history of tobacco smoking (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.00-2.16, P = .05) and obesity (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.00-2.44, P = .05) were associated with development of DE. Conclusions: DE is a rare but distressing complication of thoracolumbar spine surgery, and patients should be queried for relevant symptoms at postoperative visits when indicated.