Premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is the most common sexual problem, affecting between 1 in 3 to 1 in 5 men aged 18-59. However, people are reluctant to talk about the issue so the incidence might be higher.

Most men orgasm sooner than they would like from time to time; that’s normal. If you ejaculate too quickly most of the times you have sex, and it’s a problem for you and your partner, there’s treatments that can help.

Some men ejaculate as soon as foreplay starts. Others ejaculate during penetration or very soon after.

Some men will have premature ejaculation from the time of their first sexual experience (lifelong), while in others, it will develop after a period of having a longer, satisfactory time to ejaculation (acquired).

Causes of premature ejaculation

• Genetic causes related to the molecules that signal between nerves
• Psychological causes (e.g. anxiety, stress, relationship problems)
• Other health problems (e.g. abnormal hormone levels)

What to do about premature ejaculation

You should be reassured that premature ejaculation is very common and there are effective treatments that can help.

Your doctor can help you identify the reason for your premature ejaculation and find a suitable treatment, so you should see them if your sexual function is a cause of concern for you.

Treatment for premature ejaculation

One-third to one-quarter of men with premature ejaculation also have problems with getting or keeping an erection. Treatment of premature ejaculation is successful in 30-70% of cases.

Lifelong premature ejaculation cannot be cured but it can be managed with ongoing treatment. Acquired premature ejaculation may be cured by successfully treating the underlying issue.

Premature ejaculation can lead to stress, anxiety, erectile dysfunction and problems with your interpersonal relationships so it’s important to seek help.

Talking with a GP (doctor), psychologist, sex therapist or other mental health professional may help.

Treatments for premature ejaculation vary depending on the cause and whether it is lifelong or acquired.

Treatments include:

• ‘The stop-start technique’. If you feel close to ejaculating during sexual activity, stop and rest until the feeling has gone, and then start again.
• ‘The squeeze technique’. If you feel close to ejaculating, squeezing your penis just below the glans (the ‘head’ of the penis) can make the feeling go away
• Masturbation before sexual activity, wearing condoms, pelvic floor exercises and acupuncture might be effective for some people but there isn’t a lot of evidence to support their use.
• If premature ejaculation is related to erectile dysfunction, treating the erection problem might solve the ejaculation problem.
• You might want to involve your sexual partner in discussions about how to manage premature ejaculation because the issue may affect their sexual satisfaction, and there may be things they can do to help.

Where to get help

• Your doctor (GP)
• Sex therapist
• Healthy Male - Premature Ejaculation