Premature Ejaculation

The release of semen from the body is known as ejaculation so premature ejaculation (PE) is the term that refers to achieving orgasm quickly with little or no stimulation. This means that orgasm can occur too soon after intercourse has started and in some instances, it can even happen before penetration is achieved.

PE can cause sufferers and their partner distress and it can lead to men avoiding sex because they feel embarrassed about their condition, though occasional premature ejaculation is common and known as rapid/early ejaculation, or premature climax.

Occasional instances of PE is generally nothing to worry about and can be caused by something as simple as performance anxiety or even having too little sex!

PE can affect the sufferer mentally in any number of negative ways and a man who has experienced it for a long period of time can find that psychologically, it still takes a while for them to fully enjoy sexual intercourse even once the issue is solved physically with medication. This is because the mind has fallen into a habit of sex being very ‘one level’ and if you are used to ejaculating quickly, your sexual stamina has not had a chance to develop. Once you have begun some form of treatment, be aware that it may take some time and practise to begin to fully enjoy the sex life you wish to have.

The causes of PE vary and due to this, it can be difficult to identify one specific cause in many cases. The most common causes are known to be:

• Psychological issues: for example anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorders, as well as low self-esteem or even as a result of sexual abuse.
• Medical issues: hypothyroidism, prostate problems, diabetes and high blood pressure may put men at an increased risk of premature ejaculation.
• Sexual inexperience and those experiencing high levels of stress: these can create high levels of the stress hormone cortisol which has been directly linked to PE. In most of these cases, the problem tends to improve as experience develops or as stress levels decrease, but of course this is not always the case.
• Genetic predisposition: an independent study performed in Finland showed there can be a genetic susceptiveness to PE. This discovery is a positive finding as it means that there is potential for the development of new treatments to help those specifically suffering from the genetic form of premature ejaculation.

It is important to remember that there is no set rule about how long sex should last. Research has shown that the average time between penetration and ejaculation is around five-and-a-half minutes however, it can often be less than this in many cases. As long as you and your partner are happy with how long you last, there is no need to look for treatments. It is only worth seeking help if you are not satisfied with your sexual performance or if it persists with around half of your attempts to have intercourse ending in premature orgasm.

It might be that your situation requires one or a combination of such treatments but no matter what the cause, there are a number of approved and tested treatments available for PE to suit your personal situation.

For shorter term solutions, two very common treatments include the topical cream EMLA and the medication Dapoxetine.

Some of the most common options of treatment for premature ejaculation include:

• medication
• behavioural applications
• topical anaesthetics including creams and gel
• therapy

Dapoxetine was developed specifically to treat PE and is known as a short acting selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor or SSRI and it is designed to delay ejaculation by inhibiting the serotonin transporter.

In part this particular treatment works on a psychological level, as some studies suggest that low serotonin can make it difficult to enjoy intercourse thus causing premature ejaculation. As such Dapoxetine increases serotonin levels in the brain which causes a delay to the chemical reactions which result in ejaculation. It has shown that it can increase the time between getting an erection and reaching orgasm in eight out of 10 patients.

EMLA cream works on a physical level and is a medication designed to be applied to the penis in order to numb the nerve endings and delay ejaculation. A local anaesthetic, it reduces the level of stimulation felt at the head of the penis during intercourse and has been shown to decrease the time between an erection and ejaculation significantly.

If you would like any further information about the PE products we provide, don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email. Our specialists are on hand to answer any questions you may have.