What is Performance Anxiety? Why Does It Occur?

Since the fear of inability to provide partner satisfaction can also become the source of sexual dysfunctions over time, "performance anxiety" is evaluated as a problem that needs to be taken seriously.

Sexuality is not merely a physical act; emotions can be as decisive in sexuality as physical competence. The persistence of anxiety about not being able to satisfy the partner in men or women can lead to the inability to start sexual relationships or failure to achieve mutual satisfaction. In this article, I will answer the most curious questions regarding performance anxiety.

What is Performance Anxiety?

The state of worry that starts with the thought "What if I cannot satisfy my partner?", deepens over time, and turns into an element of pressure before or during sexual intercourse is defined as "performance anxiety".

Performance anxiety, which can have many different causes, can be seen in both men and women.

• In women, it can make achieving orgasm difficult or cause vaginismus.

• In men, it can trigger erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

As performance anxiety increases, it can lead to a process that is difficult to overcome and sexual unhappiness. If the problems likely to be experienced by couples as a result of performance anxiety continue, emotional bonds may be harmed, and family happiness may be damaged.

What Are the Causes of Performance Anxiety?

The causes of performance anxiety are quite diverse. The most common causes can be listed as follows:

• Feeling uncomfortable with one's physical appearance (Body image issues),

• Problems experienced in the relationship,

• Lack of self-confidence due to penile thinness, curvature, or shortness,

• Anxiety about premature ejaculation or delayed ejaculation,

• Persistence (chronic nature) of erectile dysfunction,

• Traumatic sexual experiences in the past,

• Exposure to excessive stress,

• Fear of rejection by the partner.

Performance Anxiety in Men

Performance anxiety can prevent sexual intercourse even for men who physically have no obstacles to sexual intercourse or have no sexual dysfunction.

The anxiety of not being able to bring the partner to sexual satisfaction increases the release of stress hormones (such as adrenaline and cortisol), causing the blood vessels to narrow (vasoconstriction) and reducing blood flow to the penis. In this case, the time to achieve an erection is prolonged or erection becomes impossible. The man who cannot get an erection starts to get excited and stressed even more; he gets trapped in a vicious cycle that is difficult to overcome.

Overcoming Performance Anxiety

Determining the causes of performance anxiety is the first step to be taken to overcome this problem. After the causes are determined, personalized treatment options can be activated.

• If anxiety is felt before sexual intercourse due to psychological reasons, participation in family/couple therapies can be provided.

• If the cause of performance anxiety experienced by men is sexual dysfunctions; in other words, if premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and penile deformities reduce men's self-confidence before sexual intercourse and create stress of not being able to provide partner satisfaction, Andrology specialists can be consulted.

Today, male sexual dysfunctions are not without solutions. Performance anxiety can be eliminated with personalized premature ejaculation treatment, erectile dysfunction treatment, and surgical treatment of penile deformities.