PREMATURE EJACULATION

What is premature ejaculation?
Premature ejaculation, also called rapid ejaculation, is a condition in which a man ejaculates too quickly, often before or very shortly after he has penetrated his partner, resulting in an unsatisfactory sex life.

There is no clear definition of ‘too quickly': some studies have shown that most men ejaculate within 3-5 minutes of penetration, but it varies from person to person and relationship to relationship. Coming ‘too quickly' can be defined as coming (ejaculating) before you would like to or before your partner is satisfied. Most men experience premature ejaculation at some time, but it becomes a problem with sexual relations if it occurs during most sexual encounters.

It's common in adolescents because the younger a man is, often, the more quickly he will get an erection and ejaculate (‘come'), and the less time he needs between erections before he can have sex again.

What causes premature ejaculation?
Premature ejaculation can have a physical cause, such as a disorder of the nervous system or an inflamed prostate gland, but usually it's a psychological issue.

There are many reasons that a man may ‘come' too quickly, such as anxiety about his performance while having sex, fear of being caught in the act, concern about making his partner pregnant, or worry about catching a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

What treatments are available?
Often, the problem of premature ejaculation diminishes as you become more secure with your partner or the circumstances in which you're having sex. However, a counsellor or therapist will be able to show you and your partner techniques to help delay ejaculation.

One type of behaviour therapy, known as the stop-and-start technique, allows your partner to stimulate your penis until you feel you are about to ejaculate. On your signal, your partner stops stimulation, waits for 20 or 30 seconds and then begins stimulation again. Over time, and with practice, this technique has been shown to help more than 95 per cent of men to control their ejaculation for up to 10 minutes or longer.

For persistent cases of premature ejaculation, your doctor may prescribe medication, such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI, a type of antidepressant), which may help delay ejaculation.