When I was 12, I had an operation to descend a testicle that was stuck up inside my body. Since I started having sex (I am 25 now), I have had problems maintaining erections long enough to acheive orgasm. I have been told that this operation is normally performed at no later than 6 or 7 years old, and that any later can cause problems. I am wondering if anyone has heard that this operation(especially at puberty age) can cause impotence problems later in life. Further details: I have no sexual hang-ups and I am very aroused by and comfortable with my partner (and previous partners)…so I dont really want to hear that this is all in my head because hormone levels and arousal seem to be fine, I have never had an injury to the crotch, Mr. Happy sticks straight up while erect (not out) and I have been told that this is unusual and may be caused by the surgeon not stitching me up right and may cause erection maintenance problems. I have been told of venous leak (blood supply to an erection leaking out) and it sounds plausible. I was also told that the plumbing is triggered by a nerve, and it is possible the nerve was impacted by the operation.
Any info on this would be much appreciated.
All the surgical causes are very inlikely (for many reasons) and can be easily checked by a LITERATE urologist. Pletismography and other studies can be done now to compare both sides. AFAIK, insufficient erection e.g.,110 degrees, can cause venous leakage, etc, but after a certain angle is reached, the blood is “locked”. Whatever problems you may have are probably unrelated to the surgery. There is a rare condition which is essentially “inability to reach orgasm”. I think, it’s treatable.
I would suggest the obvious: i.e. that you discuss the issue with your family doctor. Yours is probably not a unique case, and your MD might be able to come up with an appropriate diagnosis. Nothing like the pros in such circumstances.
Sorry I haven’t been able to provide more help.
Not every urologist knows what to do. A family doctor is a very unlikely “expert”.
I agree with peace. Your best bet is “a LITERATE urologist.” One who can spell plethysmography.
Family doctors see this problem commonly and most would be able to deal with it, but some might refer you to a urologost. Notwithstanding Peace’s apparent hostility to the medical community, I think most urologists are literate. And anorgasmia is not at all rare.
Essentially, erections are caused by blood engorging the penis after parasympathetic nerve stimulation. Blood is engorged by constriction of the spiral arteries and is not locked in at a specific angle. No one ever wants to hear that a problem (and especially this problem) is psychological, I state in passing that these problems often are.
You sound like you had an orchiopexy (repositioning of the testicle after it fails to fully descend down the canal into the scrotum). This is usually done before age five, and the success rates of surgery are less afterward. Since surgery can indeed damage the relevant nerves, it could indeed be your problem.
More information would be needed. Are you diabetic? Do you get erections at night or in the morning? Do you get erections with self stimulation? I assume from your description penetration is possible. What drugs do you take – many drugs can cause this problem.
I do suggest you see a urologist, since these problems tend to be stressful. The urologist might well use MUSE (Caverject) to see if you can maintain an erection. Plethysmography may help, but is not a first line treatment.
I need to clarify some things I guess…its not that I NEVER reach orgasm, just that more often than not, when I am with my partner(s), I lose the erection before I get around to penetration or decide its time to get off. I have reached orgasm through penetration maybe 3 times total, and I have found I need to “save myself” (no self-pleasure) for several days before I am going to see my partner because then the chances of reaching orgasm with him are much better, although not absolute. But guys I have been with can pleasure themselves at least once daily (often 2 or 3 times) and still have no problem reaching orgasm when they are with me. I am not diabetic, I get morning erections (not a whole lot though), I get erections from self stimulation, but acheiving orgasm that way takes a long time, especially without any visual aids (mags or vids). I dont take drugs, I smoke and drink (not a whole lot of either), I consider myself quite healthy. I am willing to admit that some of this may be psychological because when I notice the erection starting to fail, it gets worse because I am thinking about it - but then again, the erection usually fails without me even thinking about it. I am confused from the responses I get though, because some responders say my problems are most likely NOT caused by the operation, while others say it very well COULD be the root of the problem!! And yes, I am planning to see a urologist soon…I just wanted to be as well informed as possible before I go to a doctor.
Hmm… the reason these problems are psychological is because it’s hard not to dote on these things once they happen. It may be part of the answer here, but your case is pretty grey. The urologist will probably give you Caverject, which should sort things out.
I don’t know what Caverject is…explain?
I will be the first to admit that the psychological affects the physical and it might play a part in my problems, but it is very hard for me to believe that my brain is the sole cause of this, considering how many physical factors there are, and also considering how weird and abnormal my body is in general. I thought I was clear in stating that the erection usually fails without me even thinking about it. Can you tell me why I have never had a wet dream?
Without getting WWWTMI in this thread, I had a similar experience and haven’t experienced what you’re talking about here . . . which is either a good thing or a bad thing considering what complications I might have had. Probable best to take this one to email. Mine’s in my profile.
And my problem is probably more psychological than anything else, sadly. And happily.