Premature Ejaculation

Premature Ejaculation (PE) is a condition whereby a man ejaculates during sexual intercourse sooner than he or his partner would like. It is a common sexual complaint, and as many as 1 in every 3 men may experience this issue at some point in time. PE can be tremendously distressing for the man and he may tend to avoid sexual intimacy as a result, which could ultimately cause a strain in the couple’s sexual relationship.

You may have PE if:

  • You always or nearly always ejaculate within 1 minute or less upon penetration, or worse still, even before penetration

  • You are unable to delay ejaculation during intercourse all or nearly all the time

  • You and/or your partner often feel frustrated and sexually unfulfilled

Although many men are reluctant to visit a doctor for fear of embarrassment, PE is a treatable condition. The right intervention may help restore your confidence and improve you and your partner’s sex life.

There are 2 classifications of PE:

  • Lifelong: occurs all or nearly all of the time beginning with your first sexual encounters

  • Acquired: develops after having had previous sexual experiences without ejaculatory problems

The exact cause of PE is unknown, but is thought to involve psychological and/or biological factors. Psychological factors include:

  • Stress

  • Anxiety/depression

  • Early sexual experiences

  • Sexual abuse

  • Poor body image

  • Worrying about PE

  • Guilty feelings that increase your tendency to rush through sexual encounters

Biological factors include:

  • Erectile Dysfunction

  • Abnormal hormone levels

  • Abnormal levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters

  • Frenulum breve

  • Prostatitis or Urethritis

  • Penile glans sensitivity

Treatment options for PE include:

    • Masturbation 1 to 2 hours before sexual intercourse

    • Focussing on other types of sexual play may relieve the pressure to perform during intercourse

    • The pause-squeeze technique: Begin sexual activity until almost at the point of ejaculation, then squeeze the base of the penis glans and maintain adequate pressure for a few seconds until the urge to ejaculate subsides. Repeat the process as required. Regular usage of this technique can help you to train yourself to delay your ejaculation.

    • The start-stop technique: a similar concept, except this technique involves stopping sexual stimulation and waiting until the urge to ejaculate passes, before resuming again.

    • Applying an anaesthetic cream to the penis glans and foreskin for 15 to 30 minutes before sex creates a numbing effect, helping to reduce glans sensitivity and delay ejaculation. This is a safe and well-tolerated treatment option.

    • There are commercially available condoms that contain numbing agents, or are made of a thicker latex to help delay ejaculation.

    • Dapoxetine, also known as Priligy, is currently the only officially approved oral medication used to treat PE . This is taken as and when required.

    • Oral medications used to treat Erectile Dysfunction known as Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors may also help to delay ejaculation.

    • Tramadol is a medication commonly used to treat pain. One of its side effects includes delaying one’s ejaculation. It can be used as an alternative treatment option.

Combining behavioural treatment with drug therapy might produce the most effective results.

Speak with us today.

If you are suffering from Premature Ejaculation and would like to discuss with our doctor about your treatment options, feel free to make an appointment with us. We are here to help.