Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBiology of EjaculationNeurotransmittersPhases of EjaculationErection vs EjaculationSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Biology of Ejaculation
Neurotransmitters
Phases of Ejaculation
Erection vs Ejaculation
Summary
Serotonin, a chemical in your brain, plays an important role in your sex life, including ejaculation.
A chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter, serotonin is also important for your mental health. That’s why certain antidepressants that affect serotonin can have sexual side effects. These include problems with:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) are the most likely antidepressants to cause sexual side effects. In fact, these medications are so consistent in causing these problems that they are sometimes prescribed to treat premature ejaculation.
This article will go over the role that serotonin and otherneurotransmittersplay in ejaculation and why some medications for depression may affect your sexual satisfaction.
Prakasit Khuansuwan / EyeEm / Getty Images
The Biology of Ejaculation
Chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters help turn thoughts into sexual arousal:
Much of our understanding of the role of neurotransmitters and brain structures in arousal and orgasm comes from animal research. However, there have been human studies as well.
Through research, scientists have learned that several areas of the brain are associated with male sexual function.
The medial preoptic area (MPOA) of thehypothalamusis central to the sexual response. This is where sexual stimuli from various parts of the body come together for processing.
The brain then sends signals down thespinal cordthat cause the body to become aroused and then orgasm.Parts of the amygdala and the parietal cortex are also important in the control of ejaculation.
Role of Neurotransmitters
Using SSRI antidepressants long-term extends the time between erection and ejaculation. That’s one reason why these medications are prescribed to treat premature ejaculation.
Studies in rats have also shown that where serotonin is located in the brain changes its effects. For example, if serotonin is injected into some parts of the rat brain, it causes delayed ejaculation. When it’s put in other areas of the brain, serotonin makes ejaculation happen.
Dopamine also plays a role in ejaculation, although its role has not been explored as much as serotonin’s role.
Rat studies have also shown that dopamine stimulation can cause ejaculation.
Another example of the link between dopamine and ejaculation is seen in people withschizophreniawho are treated with antipsychotic drugs that block a particular type of dopamine receptor (D2-like receptors). Often, these patients find it difficult—if not impossible—to ejaculate. The same drugs have been tested as a treatment for people with premature ejaculation.
Similar to SSRIs, antipsychotics seem to extend the time between arousal and ejaculation. There is also some data showing that mutations in dopamine transporters may make some people more likely to experience premature ejaculation.
Techniques for Preventing Premature Ejaculation
Ejaculation is the forceful propulsion ofsemenfrom the body. It takes place in two phases.
Some people who have had certain types of prostate cancer surgery may experience “dry” ejaculation because their bodies no longer make the fluid components of semen.
Some people who are multi-orgasmic may have multiple orgasms with only one ejaculation. Other people are not able to ejaculate at all (anejaculation).
There typically is arefractory periodafter ejaculation before a person again is able to achieve erection and ejaculation.
Erection vs. Ejaculation
An erection is not required for ejaculation to occur. Ejaculation without an erection is not common, but it is possible.
The most frequent example happens to adolescents while they sleep (nocturnal emissions or “wet dreams”). Nocturnal emissions can occur with or without an erection.
Ejaculation without erection can also be stimulated using the vibration of the penis in people with certain types of spinal cord injury.This technique can also be used to collect sperm for assisted reproduction procedures.
Though the physiological pathways that lead to erection and ejaculation are related, they are not the same. This is why thePDE-5 inhibitorsused to treat erectile dysfunction do not have a major effect on a person’s ability to ejaculate.
These medications affect the flow of blood in and out of the penis. They do not affect the release of the semen components or the muscle contractions involved.
Serotonin and other neurotransmitters are involved in sexual arousal and play a role in ejaculation for people with a penis. That’s one reason why many people who take certain antidepressants experience sexual side effects.
While a lot of the research on neurotransmitters and ejaculation has been in animals, there have been some human studies to suggest that brain chemicals are a key player in human arousal.
If you’re taking a medication that you think could be having a negative effect on your sexual satisfaction, talk to your provider. You might be able to change your dose or switch to another medication that’s less likely to interfere with your sex life.
Psychological Treatments for Premature Ejaculation
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zhang D, Cheng Y, Wu K, Ma Q, Jiang J, Yan Z.Paroxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Urol. 2019;19(1):2. doi:10.1186/s12894-018-0431-7Will RG, Nutsch VL, Turner JM, Hattori T, Tobiansky DJ, Dominguez JM.Astrocytes in the medial preoptic area modulate ejaculation latency in an experience-dependent fashion.Behav Neurosci. 2015;129(1):68-73. doi:10.1037/bne0000026Xu Y, Zhang X, Xiang Z, et al.Abnormal functional connectivity between the left medial superior frontal gyrus and amygdala underlying abnormal emotion and premature ejaculation: a resting state fMRI study.Front Neurosci. 2021;15:704920. doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.704920Clement P, Giuliano F.Physiology and pharmacology of ejaculation.Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2016;119(Suppl 3):18-25. doi:10.1111/bcpt.12546Pfaus JG, Scardochio T, Parada M, Gerson C, Quintana GR, Coria-Avila GA.Do rats have orgasms?.Socioaffect Neurosci Psychol. 2016;6:31883. doi:10.3402/snp.v6.31883Rubio-Casillas A, Rodríguez-Quintero CM, Rodríguez-Manzo G, Fernández-Guasti A.Unraveling the modulatory actions of serotonin on male rat sexual responses.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015;55:234-246. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.05.003Nutsch VL, Will RG, Robison CL, Martz JR, Tobiansky DJ, Dominguez JM.Colocalization of mating-induced Fos and D2-like dopamine receptors in the medial preoptic area: influence of sexual experience.Front Behav Neurosci. 2016;10:75. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00075Alwaal A, Breyer BN, Lue TF.Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation.Fertil Steril. 2015;104(5):1051-1060. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.033Simonsen U, Comerma-Steffensen S, Andersson KE.Modulation of dopaminergic pathways to treat erectile dysfunction.Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2016;119:63-74. doi:10.1111/bcpt.12653Eltonsi TK, Tawfik TM, Rashed LA, GamalEl Din SF, Mahmoud MA.Study of the link between dopamine transporter gene polymorphisms and response to paroxetin and escitalopram in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation.Int J Impot Res. 2017;29(6):235-239. doi:10.1038/ijir.2017.29American Cancer Society.Can cancer affect a man’s ability to ejaculate?.Gray M, Zillioux J, Khourdaji I, Smith RP.Contemporary management of ejaculatory dysfunction.Transl Androl Urol. 2018;7(4):686-702. doi:10.21037/tau.2018.06.20Johns Hopkins.Penile vibratory stimualtion and electroejaculation.Pyrgidis N, Mykoniatis I, Haidich AB, et al.The effect of phosphodiesterase-type 5 inhibitors on erectile function: an overview of systematic reviews.Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:735708. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.735708
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zhang D, Cheng Y, Wu K, Ma Q, Jiang J, Yan Z.Paroxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Urol. 2019;19(1):2. doi:10.1186/s12894-018-0431-7Will RG, Nutsch VL, Turner JM, Hattori T, Tobiansky DJ, Dominguez JM.Astrocytes in the medial preoptic area modulate ejaculation latency in an experience-dependent fashion.Behav Neurosci. 2015;129(1):68-73. doi:10.1037/bne0000026Xu Y, Zhang X, Xiang Z, et al.Abnormal functional connectivity between the left medial superior frontal gyrus and amygdala underlying abnormal emotion and premature ejaculation: a resting state fMRI study.Front Neurosci. 2021;15:704920. doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.704920Clement P, Giuliano F.Physiology and pharmacology of ejaculation.Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2016;119(Suppl 3):18-25. doi:10.1111/bcpt.12546Pfaus JG, Scardochio T, Parada M, Gerson C, Quintana GR, Coria-Avila GA.Do rats have orgasms?.Socioaffect Neurosci Psychol. 2016;6:31883. doi:10.3402/snp.v6.31883Rubio-Casillas A, Rodríguez-Quintero CM, Rodríguez-Manzo G, Fernández-Guasti A.Unraveling the modulatory actions of serotonin on male rat sexual responses.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015;55:234-246. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.05.003Nutsch VL, Will RG, Robison CL, Martz JR, Tobiansky DJ, Dominguez JM.Colocalization of mating-induced Fos and D2-like dopamine receptors in the medial preoptic area: influence of sexual experience.Front Behav Neurosci. 2016;10:75. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00075Alwaal A, Breyer BN, Lue TF.Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation.Fertil Steril. 2015;104(5):1051-1060. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.033Simonsen U, Comerma-Steffensen S, Andersson KE.Modulation of dopaminergic pathways to treat erectile dysfunction.Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2016;119:63-74. doi:10.1111/bcpt.12653Eltonsi TK, Tawfik TM, Rashed LA, GamalEl Din SF, Mahmoud MA.Study of the link between dopamine transporter gene polymorphisms and response to paroxetin and escitalopram in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation.Int J Impot Res. 2017;29(6):235-239. doi:10.1038/ijir.2017.29American Cancer Society.Can cancer affect a man’s ability to ejaculate?.Gray M, Zillioux J, Khourdaji I, Smith RP.Contemporary management of ejaculatory dysfunction.Transl Androl Urol. 2018;7(4):686-702. doi:10.21037/tau.2018.06.20Johns Hopkins.Penile vibratory stimualtion and electroejaculation.Pyrgidis N, Mykoniatis I, Haidich AB, et al.The effect of phosphodiesterase-type 5 inhibitors on erectile function: an overview of systematic reviews.Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:735708. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.735708
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Zhang D, Cheng Y, Wu K, Ma Q, Jiang J, Yan Z.Paroxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Urol. 2019;19(1):2. doi:10.1186/s12894-018-0431-7Will RG, Nutsch VL, Turner JM, Hattori T, Tobiansky DJ, Dominguez JM.Astrocytes in the medial preoptic area modulate ejaculation latency in an experience-dependent fashion.Behav Neurosci. 2015;129(1):68-73. doi:10.1037/bne0000026Xu Y, Zhang X, Xiang Z, et al.Abnormal functional connectivity between the left medial superior frontal gyrus and amygdala underlying abnormal emotion and premature ejaculation: a resting state fMRI study.Front Neurosci. 2021;15:704920. doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.704920Clement P, Giuliano F.Physiology and pharmacology of ejaculation.Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2016;119(Suppl 3):18-25. doi:10.1111/bcpt.12546Pfaus JG, Scardochio T, Parada M, Gerson C, Quintana GR, Coria-Avila GA.Do rats have orgasms?.Socioaffect Neurosci Psychol. 2016;6:31883. doi:10.3402/snp.v6.31883Rubio-Casillas A, Rodríguez-Quintero CM, Rodríguez-Manzo G, Fernández-Guasti A.Unraveling the modulatory actions of serotonin on male rat sexual responses.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015;55:234-246. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.05.003Nutsch VL, Will RG, Robison CL, Martz JR, Tobiansky DJ, Dominguez JM.Colocalization of mating-induced Fos and D2-like dopamine receptors in the medial preoptic area: influence of sexual experience.Front Behav Neurosci. 2016;10:75. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00075Alwaal A, Breyer BN, Lue TF.Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation.Fertil Steril. 2015;104(5):1051-1060. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.033Simonsen U, Comerma-Steffensen S, Andersson KE.Modulation of dopaminergic pathways to treat erectile dysfunction.Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2016;119:63-74. doi:10.1111/bcpt.12653Eltonsi TK, Tawfik TM, Rashed LA, GamalEl Din SF, Mahmoud MA.Study of the link between dopamine transporter gene polymorphisms and response to paroxetin and escitalopram in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation.Int J Impot Res. 2017;29(6):235-239. doi:10.1038/ijir.2017.29American Cancer Society.Can cancer affect a man’s ability to ejaculate?.Gray M, Zillioux J, Khourdaji I, Smith RP.Contemporary management of ejaculatory dysfunction.Transl Androl Urol. 2018;7(4):686-702. doi:10.21037/tau.2018.06.20Johns Hopkins.Penile vibratory stimualtion and electroejaculation.Pyrgidis N, Mykoniatis I, Haidich AB, et al.The effect of phosphodiesterase-type 5 inhibitors on erectile function: an overview of systematic reviews.Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:735708. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.735708
Zhang D, Cheng Y, Wu K, Ma Q, Jiang J, Yan Z.Paroxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Urol. 2019;19(1):2. doi:10.1186/s12894-018-0431-7
Will RG, Nutsch VL, Turner JM, Hattori T, Tobiansky DJ, Dominguez JM.Astrocytes in the medial preoptic area modulate ejaculation latency in an experience-dependent fashion.Behav Neurosci. 2015;129(1):68-73. doi:10.1037/bne0000026
Xu Y, Zhang X, Xiang Z, et al.Abnormal functional connectivity between the left medial superior frontal gyrus and amygdala underlying abnormal emotion and premature ejaculation: a resting state fMRI study.Front Neurosci. 2021;15:704920. doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.704920
Clement P, Giuliano F.Physiology and pharmacology of ejaculation.Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2016;119(Suppl 3):18-25. doi:10.1111/bcpt.12546
Pfaus JG, Scardochio T, Parada M, Gerson C, Quintana GR, Coria-Avila GA.Do rats have orgasms?.Socioaffect Neurosci Psychol. 2016;6:31883. doi:10.3402/snp.v6.31883
Rubio-Casillas A, Rodríguez-Quintero CM, Rodríguez-Manzo G, Fernández-Guasti A.Unraveling the modulatory actions of serotonin on male rat sexual responses.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015;55:234-246. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.05.003
Nutsch VL, Will RG, Robison CL, Martz JR, Tobiansky DJ, Dominguez JM.Colocalization of mating-induced Fos and D2-like dopamine receptors in the medial preoptic area: influence of sexual experience.Front Behav Neurosci. 2016;10:75. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00075
Alwaal A, Breyer BN, Lue TF.Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation.Fertil Steril. 2015;104(5):1051-1060. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.033
Simonsen U, Comerma-Steffensen S, Andersson KE.Modulation of dopaminergic pathways to treat erectile dysfunction.Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2016;119:63-74. doi:10.1111/bcpt.12653
Eltonsi TK, Tawfik TM, Rashed LA, GamalEl Din SF, Mahmoud MA.Study of the link between dopamine transporter gene polymorphisms and response to paroxetin and escitalopram in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation.Int J Impot Res. 2017;29(6):235-239. doi:10.1038/ijir.2017.29
American Cancer Society.Can cancer affect a man’s ability to ejaculate?.
Gray M, Zillioux J, Khourdaji I, Smith RP.Contemporary management of ejaculatory dysfunction.Transl Androl Urol. 2018;7(4):686-702. doi:10.21037/tau.2018.06.20
Johns Hopkins.Penile vibratory stimualtion and electroejaculation.
Pyrgidis N, Mykoniatis I, Haidich AB, et al.The effect of phosphodiesterase-type 5 inhibitors on erectile function: an overview of systematic reviews.Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:735708. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.735708
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