Within this article, we will be answering frequently asked questions about EMLA cream, establishing why it is such a popular treatment for premature ejaculation.

What is EMLA?

EMLA is a topical local anaesthetic cream that delays premature ejaculation. It contains the active ingredients Lidocaine and Prilocaine. This trusted product has been in the UK for over 20 years and has been certified by the UK medicines authority (MHRA).

What’s EMLA cream used for?

Being a local topical anaesthetic, EMLA is used to numb certain areas of the skin. It’s usually applied before medical needle or laser procedures like in tattoos and cosmetics. More recently, EMLA has gained in popularity through being a treatment for premature ejaculation.

How Does EMLA Work?

EMLA works by numbing the treated area — making it less responsive to stimulation. It’s two active ingredients prevent nerve signals from the treated area from reaching the brain. In terms of premature ejaculation, EMLA numbs the sensitive part of the penis so you last longer in bed.

How long does EMLA last for?

Premature ejaculation is a common problem in men who cannot control or delay ejaculation within the first two minutes of sexual intercourse. Premature ejaculation is caused by several psychological and physical factors including stress, guilt, anxiety, excitement, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

As treatment for premature ejaculation, several clinical studies suggest that EMLA is an effective alternative. According to this particular study published by St James University Hospital in Leeds, EMLA can increase Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time by up to six times with negligible side effects. EMLA cream itself can last on the skin for one to five hours.

How To Use EMLA Cream

Using EMLA is easy. Just apply a pea-size amount of the cream to the head of the penis about 30 minutes before intercourse. Remember that EMLA cream is formulated as an oil in water emulsion which may cause condoms to weaken. Make sure to wipe off the cream before continuing intercourse.

Is EMLA cream dangerous?

Like all medicines, EMLA also has its own share of side effects. These include:

• Slight puffiness on the affected area
• Burning
• Itching
• Paleness or redness of the skin

These side effects are normal and go away on their own.

Although rare, EMLA may also have some serious side effects like bruising on the skin, increase in blood sugar levels, fatigue, increased levels of methemoglobin in the blood, and dizziness.

It’s also possible to develop an allergic reaction to EMLA. Stop using the treatment if you experience swelling (lips, tongue, face, and throat), hives, and difficulty breathing.

Can I buy EMLA cream over the counter?

Yes. You can buy EMLA cream without any prescription. Express Pharmacy stocks EMLA cream that you can order safely and discreetly online.

Premature ejaculation is diagnosed when a man ejaculates in less than two minutes after sexual stimulation. While this can happen from time to time in any normal relationship, premature ejaculation itself tends to occur in sex over 75% of the time.

There are a handful of both psychological and physical causes of premature ejaculation, and also many tried and tested techniques which help to delay it. Read on to discover 4 proven ways to delay premature ejaculation.

How To Delay Premature Ejaculation

While the effects will be different on each individual, the following techniques are 4 of the most popular ways to gain some control over your premature ejaculation.

1. Pelvic Floor Exercises

Your pelvic floor muscles sit between your legs. It has been found that, through strengthening them, you can have more control over when you ejaculate.

Pelvic floor exercises are pretty simple and can be done at any point throughout the day. When done correctly, it should feel like you’re holding in wind - not merely squeezing your tummy muscles.

Simply squeeze the muscles in your pelvic area, lifting them up as you do so. From here, relax the muscles completely before repeating around 10 times. Do these exercises around 10 times a day and, eventually, you may start to notice you have more control over ejaculation.

2. The Squeeze Method

The squeeze method is a great technique for men who are open with their partners about premature ejaculation. It involves a level of trust and understanding.

When you feel like you are about to ejaculate during foreplay or intercourse, get your partner to apply a firm squeeze to the tip of your penis. They should hold this grip for around 15 seconds before letting go for a further 30 seconds.

This technique will calm your ejaculatory reflex, allowing you and your partner to have more time with each other before allowing ejaculation to happen.

3. Quitting Unhealthy Habits

There are many lifestyle factors which can increase your chances of premature ejaculation, including:

• Gaining weight
• Smoking
• Drinking

Through losing weight, quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol consumption, you may find that you don’t ejaculate as prematurely. A healthy body is a happy body!

4. Medication

While premature ejaculation is hard to completely cure, one of the best ways to keep it under control is through taking tablets for premature ejaculation. The only approved premature ejaculation tablets in the UK are Priligy tablets. Priligy contains dapoxetine, which helps to raise your serotonin levels, allowing you to last for a longer duration in bed.

If you don’t wish to consume tablets, then EMLA cream is also available to treat premature ejaculation. EMLA is rubbed onto the skin of your penis, making it numb. This helps you to become less sensitive, lowering the chances of premature ejaculation.

When To See A Doctor

If problems with premature ejaculation persist and you are struggling to delay it with these methods, then it is worth heading to see your doctor. They will be able to talk through your lifestyle and any other underlying problems which may be causing the issue.

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.

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• Priligy tablets
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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. As a general rule of thumb, premature ejaculation is typically diagnosed when a man continually ejaculates within one or two minutes.

One potential way to help treat premature ejaculation is with kegel exercises.

A lot has come to light about kegel exercises and the benefits they have when it comes to strengthening your pelvic area, but what's true and what's a myth? We’re going to take a closer look at these exercises to determine whether they truly are the best way to tackle premature ejaculation.

What Are Kegel Exercises and What Are The Benefits of Kegel Exercises?

Kegel exercises are designed to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Generally speaking, your pelvic floor muscles are the muscles on your thighs, buttocks and lower abdomen. It has long been known that through strengthening these areas, you can have a positive impact on your sexual function and performance.

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.

How Do You Do Kegels Correctly?

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

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 practise kegel exercises include when you wake up in the morning, after going to the toilet and before going to bed.

What Should A Kegel Feel Like?

Kegel exercises feel like a slight tightening around your pelvic area. They are not painful when done correctly nor should exhaust you.

Kegel exercises can be practised at near enough any time throughout the day. The best way to ensure that you're doing them correctly is by tightening the muscles which prevent you from passing gas. This exact movement is a kegel exercise.

As your pelvic floor muscles get stronger, you should be able to practise this movement with ease, moving on to doing so while standing or walking.

Other Ways To Cure Premature Ejaculation

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. This is why, while practising kegel exercises, it is also worth seeking ways to treat premature ejaculation through other methods.

Other ways to treat premature ejaculation 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. 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.

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.

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.

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