Timing is everything in relationships, particularly in the bedroom. But with so many sexual health problems interfering with thousands of lives, many couples are struggling to stay satisfied.

There is a lot of taboo around sexual health problems; people are often misinformed about different concerns and their effects. This is particularly the case when it comes to premature ejaculation. But what causes premature ejaculation, and how can you treat it?

What is premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation affects between 30% to 40% of men at some point in their life, so it’s more common than you may think.

Ejaculation problems are one of the most common sexual concerns for men, and there are three main types:

• Premature ejaculation
• Delayed ejaculation
• Retrograde ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is the most common, affecting as many as one in five men. It occurs when a man ejaculates too quickly (usually after less than two minutes) during sexual intercourse.

Studies have found that the average time taken for men to ejaculate is around five and a half minutes. Of course, it is up to each couple to determine whether they are happy with how long sexual intercourse lasts, and there is no definition of how long the duration should be. But if men are finding that around half of their attempts at sexual intercourse result in premature ejaculation, it could be a cause for concern.

Premature Ejaculation Causes

Various premature ejaculation causes can lead to ongoing problems. Some of the most common causes of premature ejaculation include:

Other Health Problems

Premature ejaculation can be caused by other health issues, with the most common being problems with the thyroid or prostate. However, it’s also worth noting that premature ejaculation can cause these problems, so be sure to monitor which came first.

Mental Health

Mental health issues tend to be a huge contributor to sexual performance problems. This is particularly the case with depression; low levels of serotonin can lower your ejaculation stamina, leading to premature ejaculation.

Premature ejaculation can also be caused by stress or relationship problems, as your mind will be too busy focusing on other things.

Anxiety Over Sexual Performance

Men who have anxiety over their sexual performance, especially in the early days of a new relationship, often find that they develop ejaculation issues. This may be an issue which naturally goes as confidence builds, but some may find that the anxiety still remains.

Conditioning

It is possible for early sexual experiences to play a big part in sexual performance later in life. For example, if a teenager conditions himself to ejaculate quickly in order to avoid being caught masturbating, this can become a habit that is difficult to break later in life.

Sexual Trauma

Traumatic sexual experiences can range from being caught masturbating by a family member to being sexually abused, and this can make performing sexually later in life very difficult.

Upbringing and Beliefs about Sex

Men who have had a strict upbringing and were taught certain things surrounding sex may still have those beliefs in adulthood, impacting their ability to perform during sexual intercourse.

Biological Reasons

Biological problems, such as having an unusually sensitive penis, can lead to premature ejaculation.

Treatments for premature ejaculation

While many men find that they struggle with premature ejaculation at some point in their life, the good news is that there are several options for treating the issue. Treatment for premature ejaculation can range from behavioural techniques and exercise to therapy and medication.

Behavioural Techniques

Behavioural techniques can benefit a lot of men when it comes to controlling ejaculation. The ‘stop and start’ method involves you or your partner stimulating the penis until you are close to orgasm, then stopping for around 30 seconds or until the feeling passes. Begin the arousal again and then repeat the process three or four times before actually ejaculating, to train your body to last longer.

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Weak pelvic floor muscles can contribute to premature ejaculation; pelvic floor exercises can help to strengthen the muscles in this area. These muscles are strengthened by locating the muscles used to stop your urine flow midstream and then holding them tight for three seconds before releasing them. Repeat this process ten times, three times a day.

Therapy

Therapy is also beneficial for some men who have negative emotions or thoughts surrounding sex. Therapy can be a useful treatment alongside medical or behavioural methods to deal with certain mental health issues which may be causing the problem.

Medication

Some men also find that certain medications can help them, including:

Priligy Tablets: Priligy tablets are a prescription medication containing dapoxetine which increases serotonin levels in the body, resulting in a significant impact on a man’s ability to reach ejaculation. The serotonin levels send nerve signal transmissions, providing men with more control over when they ejaculate.

EMLA Cream: EMLA is a local anaesthetic cream which uses Lidocaine and Prilocaine to numb the skin, preventing discomfort and reducing sensitivity. It’s a common ‘off-label’ solution to premature ejaculation problems as it can increase a man’s ability to last longer during sex by as much as six times. You can buy EMLA cream over the counter or online, and it is applied 30 minutes prior to intercourse.

Regain control of your sexual performance

Premature ejaculation is a common problem for men, and if it’s occurring sporadically, it’s nothing to worry about. However, if you’re finding that you regularly ejaculate sooner than you would like, it’s worth trying out a handful of the treatments mentioned in this guide. Get in touch with our experts on 0208 123 0703 or browse our treatment range for more information.

Quick links

• Priligy tablets
• EMLA topical cream

Premature ejaculation is the term used to describe a situation in which a man reaches climax too quickly during sexual intercourse. It’s the most common ejaculation problem in the UK[1] and estimates of how many men are impacted by premature ejaculation vary widely, ranging from just 5% to 31%.[2] This is largely due to the fact that it can be difficult to define how soon is too soon when it comes to reaching orgasm.

But one potential way to help treat the condition is with kegel exercises. We’re going to take a closer look at these exercises and determine whether they truly are the best way to tackle premature ejaculation.

What are kegel exercises and how can they help?

Kegel exercises are designed to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which can impact your sexual function and performance. Generally speaking, your pelvic floor muscles are the muscles on your thighs, buttocks and lower abdomen.

Common kegel exercises involve simply contracting these muscles, holding for five seconds and then relaxing them. Repeat this up to ten times, pausing in between for five seconds of relaxation. These are known as slow kegels.

Over time, you can start to increase the length of time you contract your muscles for. You can also move on to fast kegels, which involve the exact same movements but carried out at a faster speed. Good times to practice kegel exercises include when you wake up in the morning, after going to the toilet and before going to bed.

Pelvic floor rehabilitation such as kegel exercises have been shown to be an effective means of delaying premature ejaculation, as they help to strengthen the pubococcygeus muscle. One study found that, after 12 weeks of pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation, 82.5% of participants had gained greater control of their ejaculatory reflex.[3]

Other ways to treat the condition

Although kegel exercises have proven to be an effective means of treatment for some premature ejaculation sufferers, their effectiveness has not been officially established and they are not guaranteed to prevent premature ejaculation in everybody.

Other treatment options include the “stop-start technique”, in which the male sex partner pauses sexual interaction or masturbation if they feel they are close to orgasm, and waits until the feeling passes before continuing.[4] If the sufferer is in a relationship, talking openly with your partner about your concerns and working around the issue together is highly recommended. Behavioural therapy is thought to help 60-90% of men with the condition, but it requires cooperation from both partners.[5]

What is the most effective way to tackle premature ejaculation?

Finding the right treatment for premature ejaculation depends largely on the individual case, and particularly what has caused the problem. If the issue is psychological, it may be that therapy is the best course of action. For many people, effective medication is the most dependable means of treatment.

Studies have revealed the effectiveness of medication options like Priligy. In one study, sexual satisfaction of participants increased from 50% at the beginning of the study to 80% at the end of the study, compared to 55% from participants using a placebo drug.[6]

Discover effective premature ejaculation treatment from Express Pharmacy by clicking here. For more information on the condition, get in touch with our team by calling 0208 123 07 03 or by using our discreet online Live Chat service.

[1] NHS UK. Ejaculation problems. 2016

[2] Sexual Advice Association. Ejaculation problems. 2016

[3] Pastore, AL. et al. Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation for patients with lifelong premature ejaculation: a novel therapeutic approach. 2014. Therapeutic Advances in Urology. 2014.

[4] NHS Lanarkshire. Sexual Difficulties: Premature Ejaculation. Lanarkshire Sexual Health. 2019

[5] Harvard Health Publishing. Premature Ejaculation. Harvard Medical School. 2017

[6] McCarty, EJ. And Dinsmore, WW. Dapoxetine: an evidence-based review of its effectiveness in treatment of premature ejaculation. Core Evidence. 2012

You may not always hear men admit it, but premature ejaculation is one of the most widespread sexual health concerns amongst males in the UK, along with erectile dysfunction. As many as one in three men suffer from premature ejaculation, although less than a quarter of men with the condition actually seek medical help for it.[1]

And because men find the condition difficult to talk about, it’s common for those suffering with premature ejaculation to feel completely alone and almost powerless. But this doesn’t have to be the case. We’re exploring the different means and methods involved in controlling this condition, from potential home remedies to psychological factors and effective medications.

Self-Help for premature ejaculation

There is no guaranteed way to determine how soon is too soon when it comes to ejaculation. This makes it difficult to define what we mean by premature ejaculation. Often, it comes down to sufferers of the condition finding a treatment which helps them last as long as they feel comfortable with, rather than aiming for a specific time.[2]

There are some simple precautions and measures you can undertake yourself at home which have shown signs of improving symptoms of premature ejaculation for some sufferers. These are listed as self-help treatments by the NHS[3] and include:

• Using a thick condom in order to decrease the stimulation caused by intercourse
• Taking a deep breath to briefly stop the ejaculatory reflex
• Having sex with your partner on top, allowing them to pull away when you are close to climax
• Masturbating oneto-two hours before engaging in sexual intercourse
• Taking breaks during sex and thinking about other things to distract yourself

Treating the psychology of premature ejaculation

It’s common for psychological factors to be involved in many cases of premature ejaculation. Some health professionals believe that early sexual experiences can establish a pattern that becomes difficult to change, such as situations where climax had to be hurried in order to avoid being discovered.[4]

Factors like anxiety and relationship problems are also thought to make sexual conditions like premature ejaculation more likely to occur, so dealing with these wider issues through means such as couples’ therapy can often help to lessen symptoms. Often, premature ejaculation can increase symptoms of anxiety and depression, which can in turn make premature ejaculation even worse, creating a vicious cycle.[5]

Working together with your partner to prolong the sexual experience can be helpful, such as increasing foreplay or making use of the ‘start-stop’ technique.[6]

Premature ejaculation medication

Medical treatment for premature ejaculation is often found to be the most reliable and long-lasting of options for sufferers. These treatments can range from oral medication in the form of SSRIs to topical anaesthetic creams.

Priligy, or dapoxetine, is the first pharmacological treatment for premature ejaculation to be licensed in the UK. Results from clinical trials found that many more men reported that their symptoms were ‘better’ or ‘much better’ with Priligy than with a placebo drug.[7]

Safe and effective medication for premature ejaculation is available from Express Pharmacy. Discover Priligy and the topical cream Emla on our site today. If you have any further queries about your condition, don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 0208 123 07 03 or by using our discreet online Live Chat service.

[1] The British Association of Urological Surgeons. Premature Ejaculation. 2019

[2] Waldinger, MD. Relevance of an evidence-based ejaculation time cut off point for neurobiological research of premature ejaculation. J.Comp. Neurol. 2005

[3] NHS UK. Can premature ejaculation be controlled? 2017

[4] Psychology Today. Premature Ejaculation: Causes and 10 Tips for Treatment. 2015

[5] Patrick, DL., Althof, SE., Pryor, JL. et al. Premature ejaculation: an observational study of men and their partners. J. Sex. Med. 2005.

[6] Cooper K., Martyn-St James M., Kaltenthaler, E. et al. Behavioural therapies for management of premature ejaculation: a systematic review. Sex. Med. 2015

[7] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Premature ejaculation: dapoxetine. 2014

It’s the most common sexual condition affecting men, but how much do you really know about premature ejaculation?

Defined loosely as when a man ejaculates too quickly during sexual intercourse, premature ejaculation is the most common ejaculation problem for men. However, it can be difficult to define. This is because quite simply there is no cast-iron definition of how long sex should last, and it’s up to each individual man or couple to decide whether they are happy with the length of their intercourse. One study of 500 couples found that the average time taken to ejaculate was around five and a half minutes.

Premature ejaculation can be caused by a variety of factors, both physical and psychological. It could be the result of prostate problems, thyroid problems or the effects of recreational drugs. Likewise, it could be due to mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress or problems within the relationship.

As such a vague condition, it can be difficult to really understand premature ejaculation. Thankfully, we’re here to help you bust some myths. Let’s take a look.

PERCEPTION: ‘Premature ejaculation sufferers are very anxious people’

REALITY: Not necessarily

Although anxiety can indeed be a factor in premature ejaculation, it is not a set rule that premature ejaculation sufferers also live with anxiety. In fact, one Belgian survey found that sufferers have the same average levels of anxiety as the wider population. This is because there is a distinction to be made between an anxiety disorder and sex-specific stress. The latter, just like any other stress, is something that can be worked on fairly smoothly by talking through issues with partners, trying different positions and not taking things too seriously.

PERCEPTION: ‘People with premature ejaculation experience it all the time’

REALITY: False

Premature ejaculation is more often than not a situational condition, meaning the circumstances surrounding intercourse have a significant part to play in the duration of a man’s performance. Studies show that when men feel more relaxed – usually with a long-term partner – they tend to perform for longer, while more casual relations can lead to increased feelings of stress and excitement which can bring on premature ejaculation. Likewise, life stressors like family issues or money troubles can also bring on the condition.

PERCEPTION: ‘Premature ejaculation is a young man’s problem’

REALITY: False

It’s widely thought that premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction exclusively affect men on opposite ends of the age-scale (i.e. young people suffer from PE and old people suffer from ED). In actual fact, premature ejaculation can strike at any age. One survey found that the rate of sufferers remains fairly steady at 25-30% from teens to age 50.

PERCEPTION: ‘Premature ejaculation is just as distressing for partners as it is for sufferers’

REALITY: Generally false

Men regularly project their premature ejaculation anxieties onto their partners, but research actually shows that partners don’t care as much as you might think. For women especially, the rate of orgasm in sex in general is only around 25%, with traditional methods often not doing enough to bring about climax on their own. Other methods are therefore welcomed by many women, and these don’t often need men to maintain an erection.

PERCEPTION: ‘If you can’t perform for an extended period of time, you have premature ejaculation’

REALITY: False

As we said earlier, premature ejaculation is hard to define. Consequently, this leads many men to assume they have it just because they can’t last for extended periods of time. The common consensus among health professionals is that being unable to perform for more than two minutes is an indicator of premature ejaculation. However, many men that last longer than this still assume they are sufferers.

PERCEPTION ‘There is effective treatment for premature ejaculation available’

REALITY: True!

For those who do indeed live with premature ejaculation, effective and safe treatment is available. Priligy and Emla are two proven treatments for the condition that can be prescribed by Express Pharmacy.

For more information on the premature ejaculation treatment available, contact the team of NHS-approved pharmacists at Express Pharmacy today. Call us on 0208 123 07 03 or get in touch via our discreet online Live Chat service.

Studies show that men and women rate male sexual performance differently. Let’s clear the air on premature ejaculation

A study by Men’s Health asked men to rate their own sexual performance. The magazine then asked over a thousand women the same thing about their male partner. The results found that men are potentially more worried about conditions like premature ejaculation than they need to be.

According to the survey:

- Just 23% of men feel they always last long enough during sexual intercourse
- 52% of men feel they usually last long enough
- 20% of men said they sometimes experience difficulties with lasting long enough
- 5% of men feel they rarely last as long as they want to during sex

However, the same survey found these responses from women:

- 38% say their partner always lasts long enough
- 43% say their partner lasts long enough most of the time
- 13% say their partner finds it difficult to last long enough
- 6.5% say their partner rarely lasts long enough
- Only 22% claim that how long their man lasts is their main complaint.

The most common complaint was that men spend too little time engaging in foreplay

These results show that, in general, men were much more critical of their own sexual performance time than their female partners. In some ways this isn’t surprising, as there is no firm definition of how long sexual intercourse should last and therefore no exact definition for premature ejaculation.

Premature ejaculation is generally defined as a man reaching climax too quickly, often with little stimulation necessary. It is the most common ejaculation problem. In a study of 500 couples from five different countries, the average length of sexual intercourse was around five-and-a-half minutes, and most medical professionals define premature ejaculation as reaching climax within two minutes or less.

Understanding and treating premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is something most men will experience at least once in their lifetime, but around 20-30% of men are thought to experience the condition regularly. Sadly, many men suffer in silence due to embarrassment.

There are wide variety of factors which can increase your risk of experiencing premature ejaculation. Common physical causes of premature ejaculation include prostate problems and thyroid problems — such as an overactive or underactive thyroid gland — and factors like high blood pressure, diabetes and spinal injury. Lifestyle factors can also play a part, such as excessive alcohol consumption, recreational drug use and smoking.

The cause can be also psychological, caused by factors such as stress, anxiety, guilt, nervousness, depression and relationship problems. It can also be the result of underlying trauma.

Because of this, it’s important to include your partner in your concerns as much as possible. Some men find that simply discussing their symptoms with their partner (or attending sessions such as couples therapy) can have a positive effect on their premature ejaculation symptoms. It also allows you to discuss new sexual possibilities with your partner which might help increase the length of your performance.

If you’re guilty of any of the potential lifestyle causes, it can also be beneficial to practice healthier daily habits. These might include cutting down on smoking and drinking, as well as stopping the use of any recreational drugs.

It is also possible to treat premature ejaculation with safe and effective medication. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are designed to treat depression, but they can also help to delay ejaculation. Priligy is one effective example of an SSRI which can be used to treat premature ejaculation by stopping the ejaculatory expulsion reflex from reaching your brain too quickly. It has been found to potentially increase sexual performance time by 200 to 300%.

Priligy is currently available from Express Pharmacy alongside a range of other sexual health treatments. If you have concern but are not sure what to do about it, why not call the team on 0208 123 07 03 or use our discreet live chat service.