Premature Ejaculation FAQs

The ten most frequently asked questions about premature ejaculation

1. What is premature ejaculation?
2. How common is premature ejaculation?
3. What is the difference between premature ejaculation and impotence?
4. What physical factors cause PE?
5. What psychological factors cause premature ejaculation?
6. Can my medication cause premature ejaculation?
7. Can premature ejaculation lead to health problems?
8. Are there any practical things I can do to delay ejaculation?
9. Are there medicines I can take?
10. Do I need surgery?

1. What is premature ejaculation?

Although it’s not always easy to define, as different men have different concepts of how long sex should last, medical professionals generally say that a man suffers from premature ejaculation if he ejaculates within two minutes of starting sexual stimulation. However, if you experience a persistent, significant drop in the amount of time it takes you to ejaculate, it’s worth talking to your doctor or starting an online consultation.

2. How common is premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation can affect men of all ages and it’s estimated that one in three men will experience PE at some point in their lives. It can happen frequently or only from time to time, but this is mostly dependent on what the causes are.

3. What is the difference between premature ejaculation and impotence?

Although premature ejaculation and impotence are often associated with one another, they are different things although they both affect how the penis functions. Premature ejaculation is when a man ejaculates sooner than he would like to during masturbation, anal, vaginal or oral sex. Impotence or erectile dysfunction is when a man has difficulty getting or maintaining an erection for sex.

4. What physical factors cause PE?

The following medical conditions can all cause premature ejaculation in men: diabetes, multiple sclerosis, prostate disease, high blood pressure and an under-active thyroid. Pelvic injuries can also cause premature ejaculation.

5. What psychological factors cause premature ejaculation?

The majority of premature ejaculation problems are psychological. Factors such as stress, early childhood sexual experiences, depression, emotional problems and anxiety are can be all potential reasons why you may be ejaculating earlier than you want to.

6. Can my medication cause premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation can be caused by certain types of medications. Before you stop taking these treatments, speak to your doctor to find out whether PE could be a side effect of the medicines you are using. A doctor may choose to lower your dose or recommend an alternative treatment.

Consuming large amounts of alcohol or taking recreational drugs can also affect how fast you climax during intercourse.

7. Can premature ejaculation lead to health problems?

Premature ejaculation doesn’t have any direct physical effect on your health, but it can place emotional strain on you and your relationships. There are however, many different ways in which it can be treated, which means that there is no reason for this condition to cause stress or anxiety.

8. Are there any practical things I can do to delay ejaculation?

There are many practical ways in which you can delay climax, such as wearing condoms that are thicker, using delay creams/gels and benzocaine condoms that have an anaesthetic effect on the tip of the penis.

There are also exercises that can help your ability to delay ejaculation. This includes the ‘stop and squeeze’ as well as ‘stop/start’ methods, which can be practiced on your own or with your partner. These techniques can help build stamina and can be done on your own or with your partner.

9. Are there medicines I can take?

There is currently only one prescription treatment for premature ejaculation, and that’s Priligy. It’s an oral treatment that should be taken 30 minutes before sex and can enhance your ability to control when you climax. It comes in a 30mg and 60mg dose and was very successful in clinical trials, improving participant’s ability to delay climax by 200% to 300%, without causing any major side effects.

10. Do I need surgery?

It’s not a common way to treat this condition, especially since the majority of cases are as result of psychological factors. Operations should only be considered when all the options have been explored. This is why it’s good to work alongside your doctor and partner to find the most suitable treatment, whether it be therapeutic, medicinal or through physical exercises.