ADHD and sex | Distraction, hyperfocus and male sexual dysfunction

Описание: Can ADHD cause erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation?

In the psychotherapy world, we're still getting our heads around ADHD. And we're learning more about how ADHD can complicate sex. Distraction, lots of thoughts running at the same time - it figures that we could lose focus, leading to loss of erection or difficulty reaching orgasm.

It's like when guys who want to last longer deliberately think about work meetings and sports and random things during sex. This distraction can slow things down, sometimes too much and they lose their erections. With ADHD, it's not such a deliberate choice.

And there's a tendency to get bored easily, and that impacts sex too. A relationship starts off super-hot and then the novelty wears off quickly and the ADHD partner needs more stimulation and variety.

So losing focus, boredom and difficulty staying aroused. But that's not all we see with guys with ADHD. The opposite can happen too.

Take this recent study, where 48 married men with lifelong premature ejaculation were assessed for ADHD. 20 of them - 41% of these guys - were diagnosed with ADHD. Whereas in the general population, it's estimated that 5% of people would get that diagnosis.

Link to research study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

So ADHD is a factor in early ejaculation too. But why? Because men get bored and distracted and come too soon?

No - it's probably the flipside of ADHD. The hyper-focus on an experience. Guys can get so wrapped up in the sex that they lose all sense of control, they don't realise that they're close to coming - until it's too late.

We can all get carried away and overwhelmed by sensations of pleasure during sex. And a big part of learning how to last longer is finding ways to stay more grounded, more present. But with ADHD, the entrancement can be more difficult to step back from.

That's one of the misconceptions about ADHD: that it's all about being fidgety and having a short attention span. A better way to think of ADHD is a disregulated attention system.

Focus can be fragmented, or it can lock on to an activity to the exclusion of everything else. And this hyperfocus might be deliberate - ADHD people sometimes choose to focus to push out the distractions - or it can feel automatic.

Either way, this tendency to hyperfocus can be a gift in other realms of life. Fixing complicated code, for example. But not so helpful during sex, when we do need to be able to change up and down the gears.

So the challenges can go both ways with ADHD and sex; too excited, not excited enough. Reaching orgasm way too quickly or taking too long. And that fits with our growing understanding of ADHD as a neurobehavioural condition with a spectrum of symptoms.

I offer some suggestions for overcoming these scenarios, including medication and sexual behavioural tweaks.

Check out the ADHD adults podcast for more ADHD insight and advice: https://www.adhdadult.uk/podcast/

Try my Lasting Longer self-help course - the essential skills for men: https://courses.jasondean.co.uk/cours...

The information provided by Jason Dean is solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or sexual health conditions. Although Jason Dean is a psychotherapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your doctor before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.