What is Premature Ejaculation?

Ejaculation is the expulsion of semen from the penis. Premature ejaculation (PE) is the condition when ejaculation happens sooner than a man or his partner would like during sex. It is also known as rapid ejaculation, premature climax or early ejaculation. It may not be a cause for worry but it can be frustrating if it makes sex less enjoyable and impacts relationships. 

If it happens often and causes problems, your health care provider can help. In the U.S., about 1 in 3 men 18 to 59 years old have problems with Premature ejaculation. The problem is often thought to be psychological, but biology may also play a role. As long as it happens infrequently, it does not cause for concern. However, you might be diagnosed with premature ejaculation if you:

• Always or nearly always ejaculate within 1 minute of penetration
• Are unable to delay ejaculation during intercourse all or nearly all of the time
• Feel distressed and frustrated, and tend to avoid sexual intimacy as a result

Premature ejaculation can be classified as:

• Lifelong (primary). Lifelong premature ejaculation occurs all or nearly all of the time beginning with your first sexual encounters.
• Acquired (secondary). Acquired premature ejaculation develops after you’ve had previous sexual experiences without ejaculatory problems.

Causes of Premature Ejaculation

Check for these markers, as emotional factors play a big role:

• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Guilt
• Relationship problems
• Lack of confidence or poor body image
• Concern over your sexual performance
• Negative feelings about the idea of sex (sexual repression)

Erectile dysfunction can also be a reason for premature ejaculation. You might be at increased risk of premature ejaculation if you occasionally or consistently have trouble getting or maintaining an erection. Fear of losing your erection might lead you to consciously or unconsciously hurry through sexual encounters, resulting in premature ejaculation.

Premature Ejaculation Treatment

Common treatment options for premature ejaculation include behavioral techniques, topical anesthetics, medications and counseling. However, be mindful that it might take time to find the right treatment or combination of treatments that will work for you. Behavioral treatment plus administration of drugs might prove to be the most effective course.

1. Behavioral techniques

In some cases, therapy for premature ejaculation might involve taking simple steps, such as masturbating an hour or two before intercourse so that you’re able to delay ejaculation during sex. Your doctor also might recommend avoiding intercourse for a while and focusing on other types of sexual play so that pressure is removed from your sexual encounters.

2. Pelvic floor exercises

Weak pelvic floor muscles might also impair your ability to delay ejaculation. Pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) can help strengthen these muscles. To perform these exercises, just follow the following steps:

• Find the right muscles. To identify your pelvic floor muscles, stop urination in midstream or tighten the muscles that keep you from passing gas. These maneuvers use your pelvic floor muscles. Once you’ve identified your pelvic floor muscles, you can do the exercises in any position, although you might find it easier to do them lying down at first.
• Perfect your technique. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for three seconds, and then relax for three seconds. Try it a few times in a row. When your muscles get stronger, try doing Kegel exercises while sitting, standing or walking.
• Maintain your focus. For best results, focus on tightening only your pelvic floor muscles. Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Avoid holding your breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.
• Repeat 3 times a day. Aim for at least 3 sets of 10 repetitions a day.

3. The pause-squeeze technique

Your doctor might instruct you and your partner in the use of a method called the pause-squeeze technique. This method works as follows:

• Begin sexual intercourse as usual, including stimulation of the penis, until you feel almost ready to ejaculate.
• Have your partner squeeze the end of your penis, at the point where the head (glans penis) joins the shaft, and maintain the squeeze for few seconds, until the urge to ejaculate passes.
• Have your partner repeat the squeeze process as needed.

By repeating as many times as necessary, you can reach the point of entering your partner without ejaculating. After some practice sessions, the feeling of knowing how to delay ejaculation might become a habit that no longer requires the pause-squeeze technique. If the pause-squeeze technique causes pain or discomfort, another technique is to stop sexual stimulation just before ejaculation, wait until the level of arousal has diminished and then start again. This approach is known as the stop-start technique.

4. Condoms

Condoms might also decrease penis sensitivity, which can help delay ejaculation. “Climax control” condoms are available over the counter. These condoms contain numbing agents such as benzocaine or lidocaine or are made of thicker latex to delay ejaculation.

5. Zinc supplements

Zinc not only supports healthy immunity and cell growth, the essential mineral also helps produce testosterone as well as boost your libido and energy. Research has found a link between zinc deficiency and sexual dysfunction in men, so taking 11 mg of zinc per day — the recommended amount — may improve ejaculation time.

6. Dietary changes

In addition to zinc, magnesium also plays a role in your sexual health and can play a role in premature ejaculation. Incorporating foods into your diet that are rich in zinc and magnesium may help increase the time it takes you to climax. Those foods include:

• oysters
• pumpkin seeds
• soybeans
• yogurt
• spinach
• wheat germ cereal
• almonds
• kidney beans
• chickpeas
• sesame seeds
• beef and lamb
• dark chocolate
• garlic
• peas

Medications to Cure Premature Ejaculation

Topical anesthetics  – Anesthetic creams and sprays that contain a numbing agent, such as benzocaine, lidocaine or prilocaine, are sometimes used to treat premature ejaculation. These products are applied to the penis 10 to 15 minutes before sex to reduce sensation and help delay ejaculation. But, they can have potential side effects. For example, some men report a temporary loss of sensitivity and decreased sexual pleasure. Sometimes, female partners also have reported it.

Oral medications – Many medications might delay orgasm. These include antidepressants, analgesics and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. These medications might be prescribed for either on-demand or daily use, and might be prescribed alone or in combination with other treatments. 

• Antidepressants. A side effect of certain antidepressants is delayed orgasm. For this reason, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as escitalopram (Lexapro), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) or fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), are used to help delay ejaculation.

Of these, paroxetine have been reported to be the most effective. These medications usually take 5 to 10 days to show some result. But it might take 2 to 3 weeks of treatment before you’ll see the full effect. If SSRIs don’t improve the timing of your ejaculation, your doctor might prescribe the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine (Anafranil).

• Analgesics. Tramadol (Ultram) is a medication commonly used to treat pain. It also has side effects that delay ejaculation. It is usually prescribed when SSRIs haven’t been effective. Tramadol can’t be used in combination with an SSRI.
• Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Some medications used to treat erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca) or vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), also might help to cure premature ejaculation. These medications might be more effective when used in combination with an SSRI.

Whatever, maybe your condition, know that it’s curable. Discuss it with your partner, think, meditate, and try and relax. If the problem persists, go see a doctor who will definitely guide you through the entire process. This problem of Premature Ejaculation can be cured with some medical help. There’s hope, don’t worry!

Also Read: 7 Exercises To Deal With Premature Ejaculation