Overview
The condition in which a man ejaculates immediately after penetration or even before that is called premature ejaculation or PE. It is quite a common sexual problem and every 1 out of 3 men say they have experienced it at some point in time.
If this happens occasionally then you should not be worried. However, you should be very concerned if the following applies to you:
- You are never able to delay ejaculation (during an intercourse or any other time)
- You always or often ejaculate within in a minute of penetration
- You feel embarrassed, upset and irritated and consequently try to shun sexual activity at all
The Commonness of Premature Ejaculation
Erik Goluboff, a urologist at Beth Israel Medical Centre in the New York City says that PE is more common in men who are younger as compared to aged/older men.
While there is a lot of research being done on premature ejaculation, research shows that about 30% of men experience the problem at least once in their lives.
PE leads men to be reluctant to be sexually intimate in their relationships. On the other hand, there are relationships where women are very loyal and try to fake an orgasm to spare the embarrassment their partners would experience otherwise because of PE.
With that said, it’s sensible to say that the experts have only been able to touch the tip of the iceberg in terms of the effect of PE on relationships and related aspects.
Symptoms
A permanent or lasting failure to withstand an erection because of the untimely loss of semen is the first and foremost sign of you suffering from premature ejaculation. Nonetheless, you will be able to experience the problem even outside the intercourse activity such as during masturbation.
Premature ejaculation is categorized as:
- Primary or Lifelong
This refers to the type in which a man is experiencing PE form the very beginning and experiences it at all times.
- Secondary or Acquired
The secondary type is one where men tend to develop PE all of a sudden i.e. after several successful sexual activities or ones without PE
Several men also have inconsistent symptoms of premature ejaculation i.e. they experience both normal and premature ejaculation time and again.
Causes
While the precise cause of premature ejaculation is not known so far, it was earlier only considered a psychological problem. Nonetheless, the doctors today say that it also involves a complex dealing of psychological and biological factors.
Both these factors i.e. psychological and biological play a part in premature ejaculation. Even though a majority of men feel uncomfortable talking about PE, it is a widespread and treatable condition. Things such as medications, counselling, and sexual practices or a combination of all three can be advised by healthcare professionals to delay ejaculation and improve your sex life.
Psychological causes
Psychological factors that might play a role include:
- Sexual experiences in the earliest years of puberty
- Sexual abuse
- Poor body maintenance
- Depression
- Stressing out about premature ejaculation
- Guilty and embarrassing feelings making you dash through sexual activities
Other factors that can have a psychological effect include:
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Anxiety
- Relationship problems
Biological Causes
Several biological factors contribute to PE in men including:
- Irregular hormone levels
- Uncharacteristic levels of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals)
- Tenderness and infection of the prostate or urethra
- Hereditary traits
- Risk factors
Other factors that can have a biological impact include:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Stress
Complications
As per a survey conducted on behalf of Click Pharmacy of 100 men between the ages of 18-29, found that 80% of those who suffered from P.E were nervous before having sex as they knew they would underperform during intercourse. The same survey found that this particular condition in men lead to several other problems including relationship issues, dissatisfaction, depression, etc.
Generally, the complications brought by premature ejaculation can cause two major problems:
- Stress and relationship problems
These two factors may even have a cause-and-effect relationship i.e. one occurring because of the other one.
Needless to mention, premature ejaculation makes fertilization very difficult, particularly for the couples who are trying or intending to have a baby through intravaginal ejaculation.
What Can Help
While medications and proper treatment are the most reliable methods you can deal with premature ejaculation, there are a couple of other things you can do that might help.
It is said that weak pelvic floor muscles may sometimes contribute to PE. You can attempt Kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. All you have to do is find a muscle to tighten by obstructing urination in the midstream. Hold the muscles tight for 3 seconds and then release for the next 3 seconds. Repeat this technique 10 times and at any rate three times a day.
Some say that condoms can desensitize the area and let the erection last longer. While this is not proven, there is no harm in trying.
- Masturbate before you penetrate
Masturbating a few hours before intercourse helps some men take charge during intercourse and control well.
If nothing seems to be working or all your solutions prove to be short term, it is best to consult a specialist to get the problem treated. You can also see a psychologist or psychiatrist to cater to the symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and stress.
When it is your relationship, emotional and physical well-being, and self-esteem that are on stake, you cannot afford to neglect the problem, whatever the problem may be. In the end, talking it out is the best way to cure it.