What Is Sexual Performance Anxiety?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsIdentifyingCausesTreatmentCopingFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Identifying

Causes

Treatment

Coping

Frequently Asked Questions

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Feeling anxious before sex is normal. However, feeling so nervous that you cannot have sex or enjoy sex might be sexual performance anxiety (SPA).

This disorder is more prevalent in men than in women. It can also lead to the development of sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction.

Sexual performance anxiety looks a little different when it happens before sex than during sex. When it occurs before sex, it makes having sex almost impossible. You’ll most likely be unable to have or sustain an erection. However, when it happens during sex, you’ll find that you cannot enjoy sex or even climax.

If left untreated, sexual performance anxiety could cause othersexual dysfunctionsand cause you to lose interest in sex and other sexual activities. In one study, researchers found that performance anxiety plays a huge role in the development of sexual dysfunction in both men and women.

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Symptoms of Sexual Performance Anxiety

People with sexual performance anxiety experience it in different ways, making it essential to look out for all symptoms typically associated with the condition.  Signs of sexual performance anxiety typically include:

Symptoms of sexual performance anxiety, however, look a little different in women. Women with this condition might experience:

Identifying Sexual Performance Anxiety

Sexual performance anxiety is sometimes misdiagnosed aserectile dysfunction. While the condition could cause erectile dysfunction, these are two different conditions.

Sexual performance anxiety is not a recognized medical condition, which often makes diagnosis and treatment difficult. The shame usually attached to sexual dysfunction conditions also prevents people from seeking help from a doctor or healthcare provider.

For a diagnosis of sexual performance anxiety to be made, any other reasons for your diminished sexual performance, such as other medical conditions, will have to be ruled out. A psychotherapist typically makes a diagnosis of sexual performance anxiety.

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Causes of Sexual Performance Anxiety

Your body goes through specific changes when you are anxious that could affect your sexual performance.When you are anxious, you typically experience an increase in hormones like norepinephrine and cortisol.

An increase in these hormone levels also causes an increase in your blood pressure levels, which could cause a reduction in blood flow to your penis, preventing you from getting or sustaining an erection.

Sexual performance anxiety can sometimes feed into itself and cause an unfortunate cycle. It starts with a person feeling anxious before sex which affects their performance, and then becoming even more anxious the next time they engage in sexual activity because they were unable to perform the last time.

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Treatment for Sexual Performance Anxiety

Treatment for sexual performance anxiety typically depends on what’s causing it. In general, a combination of medication and psychotherapy can be used to treat its symptoms.

More research needs to be done to find adequate treatment for sexual performance anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication have so far proven to be some of the most effective treatments for sexual performance anxiety.Buspirone,bupropion, andtrazodonehave also shown potential in helping treat symptoms of this type of performance anxiety.

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How to Cope With Sexual Performace Anxiety

People with sexual performance anxiety often operate under the false belief that they are somehow inadequate or incapable of satisfying their partners. Focusing more on your enjoyment and that of your partner instead of how adequate your performance is can help you overcome your anxiety.

Here are some other tips that can help you overcome sexual performance anxiety:

Research indicates that somewhere around 9% of 25% of men experience sexual performance anxiety.

Performance anxiety often stems from negative thoughts people experience about their ability to perform during sex. Feelings of insecurity, past negative experiences, or poor body image can also play a role.

Some signs that someone has performance anxiety include:Worry, anxiety, and negative thoughts before and during sexInability to orgasmPremature or delayed ejaculationErectile dysfunctionLack of interest in sexPhysical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, upset stomach, and sweating

Some signs that someone has performance anxiety include:

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3 SourcesVerywell Mind 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.McCabe, M. P.The role of performance anxiety in the development and maintenance of sexual dysfunction in men and women.International Journal of Stress Management,200512(4), 379–388Park BY, Wilson G, Berger J, et al.Is internet pornography causing sexual dysfunctions? A review with clinical reports.Behavioral Sciences.2016;6(3):17.Pyke RE.Sexual performance anxiety.Sexual Medicine Reviews. 2020;8(2):183-190.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind 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.McCabe, M. P.The role of performance anxiety in the development and maintenance of sexual dysfunction in men and women.International Journal of Stress Management,200512(4), 379–388Park BY, Wilson G, Berger J, et al.Is internet pornography causing sexual dysfunctions? A review with clinical reports.Behavioral Sciences.2016;6(3):17.Pyke RE.Sexual performance anxiety.Sexual Medicine Reviews. 2020;8(2):183-190.

Verywell Mind 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.

McCabe, M. P.The role of performance anxiety in the development and maintenance of sexual dysfunction in men and women.International Journal of Stress Management,200512(4), 379–388Park BY, Wilson G, Berger J, et al.Is internet pornography causing sexual dysfunctions? A review with clinical reports.Behavioral Sciences.2016;6(3):17.Pyke RE.Sexual performance anxiety.Sexual Medicine Reviews. 2020;8(2):183-190.

McCabe, M. P.The role of performance anxiety in the development and maintenance of sexual dysfunction in men and women.International Journal of Stress Management,200512(4), 379–388

Park BY, Wilson G, Berger J, et al.Is internet pornography causing sexual dysfunctions? A review with clinical reports.Behavioral Sciences.2016;6(3):17.

Pyke RE.Sexual performance anxiety.Sexual Medicine Reviews. 2020;8(2):183-190.

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