I would first like to say that I appreciate and thank you for your time and that you are doing a wonderful service by providing this website, Dr. Richards.
I have a few questions regarding sexual exhaustion recovery and supplements, but first my backstory:
About 6-7 years ago, as a teen between the ages of 15-18, I without a doubt, was addicted to masturbation. I would masturbate several times a day to all sorts of pornography. I would say I masturbated at least 3 times a day on average, with random fluctuations of doing it and not doing it.
My sexual encounters began at around 17 and during this period I had erectile dysfunction problems; low sensitivity in my penis and I would become flaccid during the act. Unfortunately my masturbation habits continued and my problem never became better. I started taking herbal supplements to aid my erections, such as horny goat weed, ginkgo biloba, maca, tribulus, l-arginine, etc.
I also realized by not masturbating for a week prior to sex, my erections were stronger. It all helped my erection issues tremendously and I was able to achieve erections like never before (a more of a 11 o’clock position rather than a more horizontal position like 9 o’clock and my better erections seemed to never want to go down. I was a new experience for me, really).After breaking up with my partners my masturbation habits would continue until finally I stumbled upon an article online about sexual exhaustion. I was about 20 years old at this point.
I realized my problem had to have been sexual exhaustion and my masturbation habits have changed since. I had developed prostatitis from frequent masturbation. I was also experiencing the mood effects of sexual exhaustion, probably from low dopamine, but at the time I felt it was just because I was an introvert. I had little emotion, I felt little love, I had erectile dysfunction, I would avoid a lot of social interactions if I could, etc.
I finally overcame my struggle and greatly reduced my masturbation frequency. I now do it once a day, every other day, every two days, a total of 5 times a week etc.
I am now 22 and my ejaculation frequency is in the range you recommend ~3-4 times a week, sometimes 1-2 times more some weeks and sometimes only once other weeks. I can say I see improvement, especially with my new partner, in the area of erectile dysfunction. My mood has also considerably improved. My urinary problems are also better.
I am still not where I would like to be, however. I feel as though I could have considerably stronger erection quality. I last awhile due to lack of sensitivity, so to aid/maintain my erection and to speed up my ejaculation process, I squeeze my PC muscle often to make sure my erection doesn’t become flaccid. I am also worried that I won’t be able to maintain an erection with a condom on during intercourse because of the lack of sensitivity, as I haven’t had sex since I started to correct my problem.
I feel my problems will subside once I make a full recovery, but I also feel my progress has hit a plateau. My questions are:
1)Is it possible to make a full recovery from sexual exhaustion without complete abstinence? Maybe ejaculation by cause of your partner for once a week for a few weeks?
2)You list a recommended masturbation frequency on the webpage that is separated by masturbation and intercourse. Is ejaculation by means of your partner’s stimulation, (everything aside from actual vaginal intercourse, like oral sex or stimulation from their hand) fall under the masturbation category or intercourse category?
3)Would you recommend I continue to take my herbal supplements such as horny goat weed, maca, ginkgo biloba, tribulus terrestris, etc. as I try to make a full recovery?
4)After reading the cases posted here I decided to begin taking a male-multivitamin, amino complex, 5-htp, and gaba supplementation to help my recovery. I noticed the 5-htp and gaba deliver a pleasant drowsiness but that is all I can tell after two days of supplementation. Am I meant to notice any other differences from those two supplements?
5)Is squeezing my PC-muscle an okay habit?
ANSWER
Yes, you suffered and are still suffering from symptoms of sexual exhaustion. The unfortunate fact is that the complete recovery won’t come as quick as desired if the problem isn’t addressed in a specific manner. Some of the severe cases are only partially reversible, though.
1. It is possible, but will delay the progress.
2. Only sex (without a condom) is considered proper intercourse due to the recharging and supporting quality of the vaginal secretions on the local penile tissues, and proper bioenergy transfer. Oral stimulation will trigger slightly different hormonal releases than masturbation, but still won’t be efficient enough.
3. Excessive tribulus stimulates the pituitary function for more LH and FSH which in turn stimulate the testicular function. A high dose of tribulus will lead to sympathetic nervous fires. If your testicular function is partially or fully locked, tribulus won’t deliver the desired results at all, instead will trigger hot flushes.
Also lower the horny goat weed intake if not done already.
4. It depends on the specific GABA promoting formula, and other supplementation that you’re currently taking.
5. No, PC muscle is the last resort of a man to keep erection from dying. If over-trained, will lead to premature ejaculation through the sympathetic response.