Which symptom requires the nurse practitioner to consider the effects of medication on ejaculation in a male patient?

Delayed ejaculation is a symptom that directly relates to the effects of certain medications on ejaculation in male patients. Various medications, particularly antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as well as some antihypertensives and other drug classes, can impact sexual function, including the mechanisms involved in ejaculation.

When a patient presents with delayed ejaculation, it prompts the nurse practitioner to review the patient’s medication profile critically, as this symptom can be a side effect of common prescriptions. Understanding the pharmacological impacts on ejaculation can help the practitioner determine if the medication should be adjusted, changed, or if additional interventions are needed to address this issue. In doing so, the practitioner can provide holistic and patient-centered care, targeting both the psychological and physiological aspects of the patient's sexual health.

Other symptoms listed, while they may relate to sexual health, do not specifically indicate a need to assess medication effects on ejaculation. For example, decreased libido could suggest various underlying issues, including hormonal or psychological factors, but it doesn’t directly point to a delay in the ejaculation process itself.