Premature ejaculation is a form of sexual dysfunction that can affect the quality of a man’s sexual life. It is characterized when an orgasm or “climax” occurs earlier than desired.
Premature ejaculation occurs when a man ejaculates earlier during intercourse than he or his partner would like. Premature ejaculation is a common sexual complaint. It is estimated that 1 in 3 men have this problem at some point in their adult life.
When to worry?
Time can mean absolutely everything in bed. If you’re climaxing earlier than you and your partner would like, sex is probably not satisfying for either of you.
Premature ejaculation can be frustrating, embarrassing and cause discomfort in the relationship, often damaging the health of the relationship .
Sexual dysfunction
While it happens infrequently, it is not a cause for concern. However, premature ejaculation can be a dysfunction if you:
- Always or almost always ejaculates within a minute of penetration;
- He is unable to delay ejaculation during sexual intercourse for most of the time;
- You feel distressed and frustrated, and tend to avoid sexual intimacy as a result.
Psychological and biological factors can play a role in premature ejaculation. Although many men are embarrassed to talk about it, premature ejaculation is a common and treatable condition. Medications, psychotherapy and sexual techniques that delay ejaculation – or a combination of them – can help improve sex for you and your partner.
Symptoms of Premature Ejaculation
The main symptom of premature ejaculation is the inability to delay ejaculation for more than a minute after penetration. However, the problem can occur in all sexual situations, even during masturbation.
Premature ejaculation can be classified as:
- Lifetime (primary) . Premature ejaculation throughout life occurs all or almost all of the time beginning with your first sexual encounters.
- Acquired (secondary) . Acquired premature ejaculation develops after you have had previous sexual experiences without ejaculatory problems.
Many men feel that they have symptoms of premature ejaculation, but the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic criteria for this sexual dysfunction. Instead, these men may experience natural variable premature ejaculation, which includes periods of rapid ejaculation as well as periods of normal ejaculation.
Causes
The exact cause of premature ejaculation is not known. Although it was once considered exclusively psychological, doctors now know that premature ejaculation involves a complex interplay of psychological and biological factors.
Psychological causes
Psychological factors that can play a role include:
- Early sexual experiences;
- Unsuccessful love relationships;
- Sexual abuse;
- Distorted body image or shyness;
- Depression ;
- Preoccupation with premature ejaculation;
- Fear of getting the partner pregnant or not fully satisfying her;
- Professional problems that may cause excessive concern;
- Guilt feelings that increase your tendency to rush into sexual encounters.
Other factors that can play a role include:
Erectile Dysfunction
Men who are anxious to obtain or maintain an erection during sexual intercourse can form a pattern of haste to ejaculate, which can be difficult to change.
Anxiety
Many men with premature ejaculation also have anxiety problems – either specifically about sexual performance or related to other issues.
Relationship problems
If you have had satisfactory sex with other partners where premature ejaculation has occurred infrequently or not, it is possible that interpersonal issues between you and your current partner are contributing to the problem.
Biological causes
Several biological factors can contribute to premature ejaculation, including:
- Abnormal hormone levels;
- Abnormal levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters ;
- Inflammation and infection of the prostate or urethra;
- Genetics and hereditary conditions;
- Diabetes (patients with diabetes may have problems with their sexual potency)
Risk factors
Several factors can increase the risk of premature ejaculation, including:
Erectile dysfunction. You may be at increased risk of premature ejaculation if you occasionally or consistently have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection. The fear of losing your erection can make you rush consciously or unconsciously into sexual encounters.
Stress. Emotional or mental tension in any area of your life can play a role in premature ejaculation, limiting your ability to relax and focus during sexual encounters.
Complications
Premature ejaculation can cause problems in your personal life, including:
Stress and relationship problems . A common complication of premature ejaculation is stress in the relationship, lack of communication, fights and in some cases separation.
Fertility problems . Premature ejaculation can occasionally make fertilization difficult for couples trying to conceive if ejaculation does not occur intravaginally.
Treatment
In most cases, there is a psychological cause and the prognosis is good. If the problem occurs at the beginning of a new sexual partnership, the difficulties usually resolve themselves as the relationship continues.
If, however, the problem is more persistent, doctors may recommend advice from a sexologist who specializes in sexual relations, sex therapy, or couple therapy.
Platforms like Vittude can facilitate the search for a psychologist who meets specific requirements to meet everyone who needs follow-up. Access our website and check for yourself all the opportunities offered!
95% of men are helped by psychotherapy and behavioral techniques that help to control ejaculation.
Drug intervention
No medication is officially licensed for the treatment of premature ejaculation, but some antidepressants can help, as they have the side effect of delaying ejaculation, because they increase the amount of serotonin in the brain.
A doctor is unlikely to prescribe any medication before taking a detailed sexual history to arrive at a clear diagnosis of premature ejaculation. Drug treatments can have adverse effects, and patients should always discuss with a doctor before using any medication.
Dapoxetine is used in many countries to treat some types of primary and secondary premature ejaculations. Dapoxetine is a drug that belongs to the same class as fluoxetine and is considered a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. However, certain criteria must be met.
Can be used if:
- Vaginal sex lasts less than 2 minutes before ejaculation occurs;
- Ejaculation persistently or recurrently happens after very little sexual stimulation and before, during or shortly after the initial penetration, and before he wants to climax;
- There is marked personal distress or interpersonal difficulty because of the dysfunction;
- There is little control over ejaculation;
- Most attempts at intercourse in the past 6 months involved premature ejaculation
Side effects of dapoxetine include nausea, diarrhea, dizziness and headache.
Topical medications
Some topical alternatives can be applied to the penis before sex, with or without a condom. These local anesthetic creams reduce stimulation.
Examples include lidocaine or prilocaine, which can improve the amount of time before ejaculation.
However, prolonged use of anesthetics can result in numbness and loss of erection. The reduced sensation created by the creams may not be acceptable for men, and numbness can also affect women .
Complementary exercises and techniques
Stop and start: work together with your partner. You should stimulate your penis until you feel like you’re going to have an orgasm. Stop the excitement for about 30 seconds or until the sensation has passed. Start stimulation again and repeat three or four times before actually ejaculating.
Tightening: Works in the same way as the previous method. But when you feel like you’re reaching orgasm, you or your partner squeeze the head of your penis until you lose your erection. Repeat this a few times before you ejaculate.
Strengthen your muscles : weak pelvic floor muscles sometimes contribute to premature ejaculation. Kegel exercises can help to strengthen them. Find the right muscles to tighten, stopping your urine halfway. Hold them firmly for 3 seconds and then release them for 3 seconds. Do this 10 times, at least 3 times a day.
Use a condom : it can reduce sensitivity enough that you can last longer.
Get busy before you “get busy” : Some men find that masturbating a few hours before sex helps them stay in control during sex.
Some men believe that if they think about something else during sex, they can last longer.
How can psychology help?
If you have identified any of the symptoms or causes listed above, seek the advice of a psychologist or psychiatrist . They can help you deal with problems like depression, anxiety or stress that may be contributing to your sexual performance.
If your relationship is affected, talking about the problem is an important first step. A good psychologist or sex therapist may be able to help. Schedule your appointment today and lead a happy and healthy sex life. After all, sex is life!
