Treating Premature & Delayed Ejaculation
Premature Ejaculation
Overview
Premature ejaculation happens when a man has an orgasm sooner than he or his partner would like. Premature ejaculation can happen before or shortly after penetration.
There is no set time for how long a man should “last” during sex. But when a man has an orgasm before he wants to, he loses his erection and can’t continue with intercourse. Premature ejaculation can be frustrating and embarrassing. You may feel you don’t have enough time to enjoy sex. You may have difficulty satisfying your partner. For some men, embarrassment about premature ejaculation can cause problems with intimacy and damage their relationships.
Premature ejaculation is a common problem among men. About 30% to 40% of men have this problem at some time in their lives.
Causes & Risk Factors
A number of emotional and physical factors can lead to premature ejaculation. It may happen when a man becomes too excited or stimulated, or if his penis is very sensitive. It may also happen if a man is nervous or uncomfortable with a new partner. Other common causes include the following:
Men who have a low amount of a special chemical called serotonin in their brain may have problems with premature ejaculation.
Not in most cases. Rarely, premature ejaculation results from a serious health problem, such as nervous system damage from surgery or trauma.
Treatment
Premature ejaculation often goes away without treatment. But if it happens frequently, and it makes you or your partner unhappy, you may want to talk to your family doctor. There are several possible methods for delaying orgasm.
Behavioral methods are helpful for more than 95% of men who have premature ejaculation.
In this type of treatment, you practice controlling your ejaculation, either alone or with a partner.
In addition to using a behavioral method, you may want to try thought distractions. For example, while you’re being sexually stimulated, think about the names of players on your favorite sports team.
Anxiety, depression and other emotional issues can lead to premature ejaculation. For these issues, seeking the help of a psychologist, psychiatrist or sex therapist may be helpful. Couples therapy may also help if relationship problems are the cause of premature ejaculation.
Several medical treatments may help men who have premature ejaculation. Some antidepressants seem to help delay ejaculation, including antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These antidepressants are available with your doctor’s prescription. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of these medicines to treat premature ejaculation. Also, antidepressants may cause side effects such as nausea, dry mouth and drowsiness. Antidepressants may also decrease your desire to have sex. Your family doctor can help you decide if an antidepressant is right for you.
Anesthetic creams can also be used to prevent premature ejaculation. These creams are applied to the head of the penis to make it less sensitive. Usually, the cream is applied about 30 minutes before sex and then washed off once it has decreased the feeling in your penis. The cream must be washed off before sex. If it is left on, it can cause a loss of erection and vaginal numbness.
For some men, simply wearing a condom can help delay ejaculation because it may make the penis slightly less sensitive.
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Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff
Reviewed/Updated: 04/14
Created: 06/09
Ejaculation Problems in Men
Ejaculation Problems are common sexual problems in men.
The three main problems are:
premature ejaculation
delayed ejaculation
retrograde ejaculation
These are described in more detail below.
If you have a problem with ejaculation, visit your GP, who will discuss the problem with you and may examine you or refer you to a specialist.
Premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is the most common ejaculation problem. It's where the male ejaculates too quickly during sexual intercourse.
A study looking at 500 couples from five different countries found the average time taken to ejaculate during intercourse was around five-and-a-half minutes. However, it's up to each couple to decide if they’re happy with the time taken – there’s no definition of how long sex should last.
Occasional episodes of premature ejaculation are common and aren't a cause for concern. However, if you're finding that around half of your attempts at sex result in premature ejaculation, it might help to get treatment.
Causes of premature ejaculation
Various psychological and physical factors can cause a man to suddenly experience premature ejaculation.
Common physical causes include:
prostate problems
thyroid problems – an overactive or underactive thyroid gland
using recreational drugs
Common psychological causes include:
depression
stress
relationship problems
anxiety about sexual performance (particularly at the start of a new relationship, or when a man has had previous problems with sexual performance)
It's possible, but less common, for a man to have always experienced premature ejaculation since becoming sexually active. A number of possible causes for this are:
Conditioning – it's possible that early sexual experiences can influence future sexual behaviour. For example, if a teenager conditions himself to ejaculate quickly to avoid being caught masturbating, it may later be difficult to break the habit.
A traumatic sexual experience from childhood – this can range from being caught masturbating to sexual abuse.
A strict upbringing and beliefs about sex.
Biological reasons – some men may find their penis is extra sensitive.
Treating premature ejaculation
There are a number of things you can try yourself before seeking medical help.
Measures you can try yourself
It can sometimes help to:
masturbate an hour or two before having sex
use a thick condom to help decrease sensation
take a deep breath to briefly shut down the ejaculatory reflex (an automatic reflex of the body during which ejaculation occurs)
have sex with your partner on top (to allow them to pull away when you are close to ejaculating)
take breaks during sex and think about something boring
Couples therapy
If you're in a long-term relationship, you may benefit from having couples therapy. During these sessions, the therapist will:
encourage couples to explore any relationship issues they have, and give them advice about resolving them
show the couple techniques that can help the man "unlearn" the habit of premature ejaculation (the two most popular techniques are the "squeeze" and "stop-go" techniques)
In the squeeze technique, the woman masturbates the man, but stops before the point of ejaculation and squeezes the head of his penis for between 10 to 20 seconds. She then lets go and waits for another 30 seconds before resuming masturbation. This process is carried out several times before ejaculation is allowed to occur.
The stop-go technique is similar, but the woman doesn’t squeeze the penis. Once the man feels more confident about delaying ejaculation, the couple can begin to have sex, stopping and starting as required.
These techniques may sound simple, but they require lots of practice.
Antidepressants (SSRIs)
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are designed to treat depression, but they also delay ejaculation. SSRIs used for this purpose include:
paroxetine
sertraline
fluoxetine
Some men may experience an improvement as soon as treatment begins. However, you'll usually need to take the medication for one to two weeks before you notice the full effects.
Side effects of SSRIs are usually mild and should improve after two to three weeks. They include:
fatigue
feeling sick and being sick
diarrhoea
excessive sweating
Read more about the side effects of SSRIs.
Dapoxetine
An SSRI specifically designed to treat premature ejaculation, known as dapoxetine (Priligy), has now been licensed in the UK. Local NHS authorities can choose to prescribe it on the NHS.
It acts much faster than the SSRIs mentioned above and can be used "on demand". You’ll usually be advised to take it between one and three hours before sex, but not more than once a day.
Your response to the treatment will then be reviewed after four weeks (or after six doses), and again every six months.
Dapoxetine isn't suitable for all men diagnosed with premature ejaculation. For example, it is not recommended for some men with heart, kidney and liver problems. It can also interact with other medications, such as other antidepressants.
Common side effects include:
headaches
dizziness
feeling sick
Topical anaesthetics and condoms
The use of topical anaesthetics such as lidocaine or prilocaine can help but may be transferred and absorbed to the vagina, causing decreased sensation. Condoms can also be used and are effective, particularly when combined with local anaesthesia.
Delayed ejaculation
Delayed ejaculation (male orgasmic disorder) is classed as either:
experiencing a significant delay before ejaculation
being unable to ejaculate at all, even though the man wants to and his erection is normal
You may have delayed ejaculation if:
you experience a repeated and unwanted delay before ejaculation lasting for 30 to 60 minutes
you're unable to ejaculate at least half the times you have sex
Causes of delayed ejaculation
Like premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation can be caused by psychological and physical factors.
Possible psychological causes of delayed ejaculation are similar to those of premature ejaculation – for example, early sexual trauma, strict upbringing, relationship problems, stress or depression.
Physical causes of delayed ejaculation include:
diabetes (usually only type 1 diabetes)
spinal cord injuries
multiple sclerosis
surgery to the bladder or prostate gland
increasing age
Many medicines are known to cause delayed ejaculation, including:
antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
medications to treat high blood pressure, such as beta-blockers
antipsychotics, used to treat episodes of psychosis
muscle relaxants such as balcofen, which is widely used to treat motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis
powerful painkillers, such as methadone (which is also widely used to treat people addicted to heroin)
Delayed ejaculation can suddenly start to happen after previously having no problems, or (less commonly) the man may have always experienced it.
It can occur in all sexual situations, or only in certain situations. For example, you may be able to ejaculate normally when masturbating, but not during sex. When ejaculation only occurs in certain situations, there's usually a psychological cause.
Treating delayed ejaculation
Sex therapy
Sex therapy is a form of counselling that uses a combination of psychotherapy and structured changes in your sex life. This can help to increase your feeling of enjoyment during sex, and help make ejaculation easier.
Some clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) provide a sex therapy service on the NHS. Availability can vary widely depending on where you live.
You can also pay privately. Prices per session are around £50 to £80. The College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists website provides information about private sex therapists and how to find a therapist in your local area.
The relationship counselling service Relate also offers sex therapy at a number of its centres. You’ll need to pay for each session.
During sex therapy, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss any emotional or psychological issues related to your sexuality and relationship, in a non-judgemental way.
Activities may also be recommended for you to try at home while you're having sex with your partner (you should never be asked to take part in any sexual activities during a session with the therapist).
These may include:
viewing erotic videos and magazines before having sex to increase the feeling of stimulation
erotic fantasies and "sex games" to make your lovemaking more exciting
using lubricating creams, or jellies, to make the physical act of sex more comfortable and relaxing
using sexual aids, such as vibrators, to increase pleasure
Read more information about what a sex therapist can do.
Switching medication
There are a number of medications that can be used if it's thought SSRIs are responsible for causing delayed ejaculation. These include:
amantadine – originally designed to treat viral infections
buproprion – usually prescribed to help people quit smoking
yohimbine – originally designed to treat erectile dysfunction
These help block some of the chemical effects of SSRIs that may contribute towards delayed ejaculation.
Alcohol and drugs
Alcohol misuse and drug use can be separate underlying causes of delayed ejaculation, so addressing these problems may help.
Read more about getting help with alcohol misuse and drug use.
Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine tablets may be tried, but these will need to be prescribed "off-label". This means the medicine shows promise in treating delayed ejaculation but it hasn't been licensed for this particular use (pseudoephedrine is normally used as a decongestant).
Retrograde ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation is a rarer type of ejaculation problem. It happens when semen travels backwards into the bladder instead of through the urethra (the tube that urine passes through).
The main symptoms of retrograde ejaculation include:
producing no semen, or only a small amount, during ejaculation
producing cloudy urine (because of the semen in it) when you first go to the toilet after having sex
Men with retrograde ejaculation still experience the feeling of an orgasm and the condition doesn't pose a danger to health. However, it can affect the ability to father a child.
Causes of Retrograde ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation is caused by damage to the nerves or muscles that surround the neck of the bladder (the point where the urethra connects to the bladder).
Usually when you ejaculate, semen is pushed out of your urethra. It is prevented from entering your bladder by the muscles around the neck of the bladder, which close tightly at the moment of orgasm.
However, damage to the surrounding muscles or nerves can stop the bladder neck closing, causing the semen to move into the bladder rather than up through the urethra.
Prostate gland surgery or bladder surgery is the most common cause of retrograde ejaculation. Other causes are diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and a class of medicines known as alpha blockers, which are often used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Treating Retrograde ejaculation
Most men do not need treatment for retrograde ejaculation because they are still able to enjoy a healthy sex life and the condition does not have adverse effects on their health.
But if treatment is required (usually because of wanting to father a child), there are options to try.
For example, pseudoephedrine (commonly used as a decongestant) has proved effective in treating retrograde ejaculation caused by diabetes or surgery.
If retrograde ejaculation is caused by using a certain medication, then normal ejaculation will usually return once medication is stopped. Speak to your GP before stopping any prescribed medication.
However, if the retrograde ejaculation has been caused by significant muscle or nerve damage, treatment may not be possible.
Men who want to have children can have sperm taken from their urine for use in artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Involve your partner
If you are having problems with your sex life and are seeking treatment, it is usually recommended you involve your partner as much as possible.
Communicating your concerns can often go a long way to helping to resolve them. And in some cases your partner may also have their own problems that are contributing towards problems with your sex life.
For example some women are unable to reach climax during "normal" intercourse and require manual or oral stimulation.
Read more about why talking about sex is important.
Blood in your semen
Finding blood in your semen (haematospermia) can be alarming. However, in most cases it's not serious and will pass within a few days.
The most likely cause is infection of your urethra (urethritis) or prostate (prostatitis).
See your GP or visit your local genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic if the symptoms persist, because the causes may be more serious.
Read more about blood in the semen.
Page last reviewed: 17/07/2016
Next review due: 17/07/2019
Source: NHS Choices, UK