You are gearing up for the big finish. Just as you are just thinking about it, your body responds earlier than what you would have wanted. The excitement and anticipation immediately turn to frustration when you realize you just had premature ejaculation.
You’re not the only one. Premature ejaculation happens to be one of the most common sexual dysfunctions among men. Estimates vary, but it affects 1 out of 3 men between the ages of 18 to 59 at any given time. There are instances where couples are still in foreplay, and suddenly the play is suddenly over.
Just what is Premature Ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is an instance where a man ejaculates sooner during sexual intercourse than desired by either partner. There may or not be actual penetration involved. There are instances where men ejaculate just as soon as foreplay starts.
The feeling of release is manifested through ejaculation but without the sensation and satisfaction associated with an orgasm. In most cases, the male’s erection subsides after release.
This should not be a cause for concern if it happens infrequently. However, it should, if it happens more frequently than one would want. If it makes sex less pleasurable for you and your partner and it negatively impacts your intimate relationship.
Is Premature Ejaculation really that common?
In a nutshell, yes. Just as stated above, though results vary, 1 in every 3 men are affected by premature ejaculation at some point in their life. An updated study stated that 30% of men between the ages of 18 to 59 years of age report having premature ejaculation problems. In some reports, the prevalence can rise as high as 75%.
Add to this fact that it has also been found that 30% of these men with premature ejaculation may also be experiencing erectile dysfunction.
Do you have these symptoms?
You might be suffering from premature ejaculation if:
- You tend to ejaculate during foreplay or within 5 minutes after penetration. Take note that this problem can also occur in any situation, even with masturbation.
- You have no control in delaying ejaculation during actual intercourse in nearly all the time you engage in sex.
- You tend to avoid sexual contact as a result of past encounters garnering the same result that leaves you feeling distressed and frustrated.
If you sought help your physician would probably start inquiring if you are constantly having problems or if it’s recently experienced. Part of the diagnosis stage involves finding out whether ejaculation occurs early, late, or even none at all. Your doctor may ask about your sex life and sexual habits including your relationships. They might also recommend a physical examination as well if they suspect other causes after reviewing your medical history but generally, no physical exam or lab work is needed.
This exercise will help your doctor determine if your premature ejaculation is caused by psychological or physical/biological issues.
Causes of Premature Ejaculation
A questionnaire will determine if the cause of your premature ejaculation is psychological or physical in nature, though it might not be far-fetched that a combination of both can occur in some instances. Doctors now agree that premature ejaculation involves a complex interaction of both physiological and biological factors.
Psychological issues that might induce premature ejaculation to include:
- Early sexual experiences
- Depression
- Deep worry about sexual inadequacy
- Guilt feelings that invoke your body to rush through sexual encounters
Other factors that might contribute to the problem include:
- Anxiety – Men diagnosed with premature ejaculation are found to have problems with anxiety, most especially involving performance and other related issues.
- Interpersonal relationship – If you can have satisfying sex with others, with or without the occurrence of premature ejaculation, the possibility exists that the problem lies in your relationship with your current partner.
- Erectile dysfunction – The anxiousness of obtaining or even maintaining an erection during any sexual conquest might cause a mental pattern to rush towards ejaculation. Once established, this forms a habit that would be difficult to change.
If your doctor finds that your problem stems from psychological or emotional issues, they may refer you to a mental health professional that specializes in treating people who have trouble with sex and sexual issues.
Biological issues that might induce premature ejaculation include:
- Hormone imbalances or abnormal hormone levels
- Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters
- Prostate and/or urethra inflammation
- Genetic or inherited traits
If it is determined that your problem may spring from physical or biological factors, then you may be referred to a urologist or in-person provider. A urologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions that affect your urinary system. Lab tests may be required if your doctor determines after reviewing your responses to questionnaires.
Is Premature Ejaculation treatable?
The answer to this is a big yes. Once the problem is diagnosed and the root cause or causes have been found, there are treatment options that your doctors can pursue and map out a treatment plan that would be best for you.
One of the following or a combination of them may be employed concurrently for treatment.
Psychological Therapy
This treatment option will deal with working through thought processes and emotions that may be factors affecting sexual relations. Its goal is to identify the root cause of the emotional distress that is causing your premature ejaculation.
Part of the treatment process involves couple therapy with the intention of helping couples grow closer together. The process also involves the aim of diluting if not totally eradicating anxiousness in anything pertaining to sexual performance.
In simple cases, this type of therapy is employed as the sole treatment option. In any other case, it may be employed alongside other therapy options.
Behavioral Therapy
This form of therapy employs exercises to assist in building up a tolerance with the objective of delaying ejaculation. The exercises aim to train your body from experiencing premature ejaculation. Though the exercises may work well, they may not be a lasting solution.
Behavioral therapy involves:
- The Squeeze Method
It involves your partner stimulating your penis to the point of ejaculation. Once there, either you or your partner squeezes the penis or its glans making your erection partially subside. The exercise trains your body to identify and be aware of the sensation leading to climax. This method can also be done solo through masturbation.
- The Stop-Start Method
Again involving your partner stimulating your penis until the point of ejaculation. When the point is reached, your partner stops until the urge to ejaculate subsides. Once control is attained, you and your partner repeat the process for up to 3 times. The reward of finally ejaculating is given on the 4th the process is done. It is advised that this method be done at least 3 times a week until you have learned to take control.
Medical Therapy
While there are no approved drugs for use against premature ejaculation in the U.S. There are still a few drugs, numbing creams and sprays that may aid in slowing ejaculation among men with premature ejaculation.
In Germany, men who opt for treatment with medication prefer a type of drug known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in tablet form. SSRIs are typically used to treat depression.
| Drug | Used | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Not approved (off-label use): | | |
| Paroxetine(Paxil) | Daily or as needed, 1 to 3 hours before having sex | When taken daily: 10 to 20 mg is recommended for PE When taken as needed: 20 mg |
| Sertraline(Zoloft) | Daily or as needed, 3 to 5 hours before having sex | When taken daily: 25 mg to 50 mg when take for PE When taken as needed: 50 mg |
| PDE-5 | Many different options used when PEJ with ED present. | Take before sex or daily read more here. |
| | | |
One of the side effects of SSRIs become useful because they are found to increase the time it takes for ejaculation to occur. These drugs affect serotonin levels. Doctors have found that both men and women on antidepressant drugs have delayed orgasms.
Some doctors may employ these drugs “off-label” which means using them for another purpose (to treat premature ejaculation) rather than what the drug is for in its original use. If one drug does not work, your doctor may suggest trying another drug.
Another option for a person with premature ejaculation problems may be recommended to try using numbing creams or sprays. These are applied on the glans (head of the penis) about 20 to 30 minutes before sex.
The drawback to employing this method is that these creams or sprays tend to subside the erection if left on for longer than what is suggested. It is also advised to not be left on the penis during vaginal sex for it has the tendency to numb the vagina. So it is necessary to wash it off thoroughly at least 5 to 10 minutes before penetrative sex.
If done right, a high percentage of men with premature ejaculation will recover. However, the promise of complete and total recovery is not assured, learning to relax does help a lot. If problems persist, your doctor can always assist you in finding solutions best suited for you.
Thrones Health is a discreet telemedicine online service that helps concerned men and women with their sensitive healthcare concerns. This could be the sign for you to get started with an online consultation with us today!
