Premature Ejaculation: What it is and how to treat it
Many men experience some form of premature ejaculation, or PE, at some point in their lives. In fact, it’s quite a common problem in men who are sexually active. This is affecting about 20% to 30% of men. Still, experiencing premature ejaculation can be distressing and embarrassing. While not only for the man experiencing it but for their sexual partner as well. It can negatively affect self-esteem, decrease sexual satisfaction, and disrupt the overall quality of life for a man and his partner.
If you have ever experienced premature ejaculation or you’re dealing with it on a consistent basis, you may be looking for some guidance and help. Fortunately, there are several ways to treat and manage this problem.
Read on to learn more about PE and all your available treatment options.
What is premature ejaculation?
In medical terms, premature ejaculation refers to the inability of a man to delay ejaculation long enough for his partner to reach orgasm. According to the definition by Masters and Johnson, this inability to delay ejaculation should be present for half of all “intercourse attempts” in order to be defined as PE.
The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) defines premature ejaculation as a type of sexual dysfunction. Ejaculation characterizes PE. That always occurs within one minute of vaginal penetration (lifelong PE). They define acquired PE as a reduction in the time period before a man’s usual ejaculation time by around 3 minutes or less. An inability to delay ejaculation is often accompanied by feelings of distress and disappointment, as well as an avoidance of sexual intimacy.
In other words, if you only experience premature ejaculation once in a blue moon, it’s probably not a cause for concern. However, a healthcare professional may diagnose you with PE if:
- You almost always ejaculate within one minute of vaginal penetration
- You’re unable to delay ejaculation almost every time you have sex
- You feel frustrated or distressed about your inability to delay ejaculation
There are two main types of premature ejaculation as defined by the ISSM:
Lifelong Premature Ejaculation
This type of premature ejaculation occurs all or nearly all of the time from the time you first start having sexual experiences.
Acquired Premature Ejaculation
This type of premature ejaculation develops over time after you’ve already had sexual experiences without any problems.
The degree and type of PE can vary throughout a man’s life. Symptoms of premature ejaculation might not fall within one category of the condition. A sexually active man might experience periods of an inability to delay ejaculation followed by periods of normal ejaculation times. Consult a doctor or healthcare provider if you have concerns about your sexual condition.
Why does premature ejaculation happen?
There’s more than meets the eye when understanding what PE means. While the exact cause of PE is unknown, there are several risk factors that may come into play. Biological and physical risk factors may include:
- Low serotonin levels
- Abnormal levels of LH, prolactin, TSH and other hormones
- Infection or inflammation of the urethra or prostate
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Prostate disease
- Underactive thyroid
Risk factors may also be psychological in nature:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Guilt
- Irrational fears or expectations with new partners
- Self-esteem problems
- Sexual abuse
- Repression of sexual desires
Premature ejaculation(PE) may also be associated with erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence. Almost one-third of men complain of experiencing erectile dysfunction with premature ejaculation.
Can premature ejaculation be cured?
There are many available treatment options for premature ejaculation(PE). However, there is no med to cure PE. There are a number of medications, supplements, and lifestyle changes that can help manage the condition. In most cases, PE is psychological. In other cases, a medication like Priligy (dapoxetine) can be prescribed.
Premature ejaculation treatment
Medications
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants that often prescribed to treat premature ejaculation. These medications may include Zoloft (sertraline), Lexapro (escitalopram), and Paxil (paroxetine). If SSRIs are not effective, a doctor may prescribe a tricyclic antidepressant like Anafranil (clomipramine) instead.
One short-acting SSRI called Priligy is specifically marketed for the treatment of premature ejaculation. In two that evaluated over 2,500 men aged 18 to 77 years old, researchers found dapoxetine to be more effective than placebo. It’s effective for increasing ejaculatory latency time. After the trials, men taking dapoxetine said they experienced better control of ejaculation and improved sexual satisfaction.
Other medications like phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors may be prescribed, such as , , or . While PDE-5 inhibitors are primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction, they may also be effective for treating PE.
Supplements and natural remedies may be useful in some cases. For example, zinc supplements may help improve ejaculation time. Natural Ayurvedic or Chinese herbal medicines may also help improve PE although studies are still ongoing. Consult a healthcare provider before trying a natural remedy.
Exercises
Premature ejaculation may be caused by weak pelvic floor muscles. You may choose to try pelvic floor muscle exercises, also called Kegel exercises, to strengthen these muscles. These exercises involve identifying the pelvic floor muscles and activating them. Strengthening these muscles can help control the muscle contractions responsible for ejaculation.
Behavioral treatment techniques
Behavioral therapy includes the pause-squeeze technique. While this method involves engaging in sexual activity. And also stimulating the penis until you feel the need to ejaculate. Then, your partner squeezes the end of your penis. Where the head meets the shaft for several seconds until the need to ejaculate passes. Also, your partner can repeat this process as necessary throughout the duration of sexual activity. Another variation of this technique is the stop-start technique. Which involves stopping sexual stimulation before ejaculation. And then starting again. Your doctor may also recommend masturbating an hour or two before sex to delay ejaculation during sex.
Therapy and counseling
Therapy and counseling may be recommended alone or in addition to other treatments for premature ejaculation (PE). Because PE is often psychological in nature, sex therapy and counseling can help identify the root causes of the problem. A therapist or provider can help guide a man through their anxieties or other emotions that may be contributing to PE. Talking about the problem can be helpful for many men with PE.
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