This information has been reprinted courtesy of the Erectile Dysfunction Information Center (www.erectile-dysfunction-treatment.org) for personal use only.

Rapid or premature ejaculation

Rapid or premature ejaculation is the inability to delay ejaculation long enough to have a satisfactory sexual experience. It is the most common form of sexual dysfunction in men, affecting nearly 30% at some time in their lives. Most often it is due to nervousness or anxiety over how well one will perform during sex.

Causes of premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation often occurs during a male’s first experiences with sex, and in this case is most commonly attributed to anxiety. Over time, most men gradually learn to control their orgasm.

Some men, though, develop a longer-term anxiety toward sex, which can cause a prolonged experience with premature ejaculation.

Sexual behavior can also be a factor in premature ejaculation. The longer the period since the last ejaculation, the quicker young men typically reach orgasm. Younger men tend to ejaculate more quickly than older men, as experience seems to be associated with ejaculatory control.

Treatment for premature ejaculation

Behavioral therapy

For many years, behavioral therapy was the only treatment available and accepted. Behavioral therapy includes:

• The “start-stop” method, in which the male withdraws the penis from the vagina before ejaculation can occur, then reinserts the penis when the urgency has subsided.
• The “squeeze” method, in which gentle pressure is applied to the head of the penis with the index finger and thumb to prevent ejaculation.

Desensitizing the penis

Some men find that desensitizing the penis can help resolve premature ejaculation, though it usually also lessens the pleasure of sex for the male. The two most common types of desensitization are:

• Use of desensitizing creams, which promise to lessen the sensations felt by men during intercourse so that they can last longer.
• Use of condoms, which reduce the amount of stimulation experienced during sex.

Anti-depressants

In recent years, a number of studies have revealed that anti-depressants can be fairly effective in postponing ejaculation when taken on a daily basis or when taken about 5 to 24 hours before anticipated sexual activity.

Consult your doctor

Depending on your level of discomfort or concern about premature ejaculation, you may want to see a physician to explore treatment options.

This page revised March 2005

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