Ejaculating too early is one of the number one complaints many men have. Regardless as to whether your premature ejaculation is a problem with sexual functioning or simply, a personal “problem” where you want to have more control over when you climax, it’s a common issue that as much as 40% of men struggle with. Most importantly, it’s one that can be fixed. Unfortunately, many men shy away from the topic due to emotional and psychological factors, so they never realize just how viable a solution is. In this article, we have you covered and you don’t even have to discuss your premature ejaculation out in the open or in a doctor’s office. Well, unless there is a medical concern, which we will get to later. For now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of premature ejaculation so you can take control of your swollen member, sexual experiences and sexual satisfaction.
Contents
What is Premature Ejaculation?
Put into simple terms, premature ejaculation is when a man ejaculates or has an orgasm during intercourse before he or his partner wants. But this is a fairly broad definition that leaves a lot of ground uncovered. For example, everyone can relate to orgasming before they wanted to. It happens! However, premature ejaculation is a little different than simply getting too excited and cuming too fast. Typically, it’s when you ejaculate far too early to the point where you’re barely able to have intercourse or satisfy yourself or your partner. In other words, ejaculating at 15 minutes when you wanted to last 20 minutes probably isn’t premature ejaculation but as per the definition, it would seem like it. Most men will experience both types of premature ejaculation in their lifetime, which can make it difficult to determine if it’s a sexual problem or not.
Is It a Sexual Problem or Personal Preference?
Typically, premature ejaculation is used to describe male sexual problems related to sexual functioning, vs. personal preference, and it affects 30 to 40% of men. But perhaps you’re right on the line. Maybe you can last quite some time but still orgasm before you want to or perhaps your premature ejaculation only happens sometimes. As a general guideline, some physicians say that, in order to be classified as a sexual dysfunction, it must occur in 50% of your sexual encounters. However, context is important and there are various factors that can come into play, so it is best to speak with your healthcare provider.
Is Premature Ejaculation Dangerous?
Some forms of male sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction, can increase your risk of vascular disease, and premature ejaculation is considered to be a type of E.D. So, you will want to bring this up with your doctor as well. Although, the physical symptoms are rarely a threat to your physical health and despite premature ejaculation being a physical problem, it’s typically the emotional and mental symptoms that are far more damaging. Premature ejaculation tends to take a heavy psychological toll, creating all kinds of anxiety and insecurities, depression, shame and other feelings of inadequacy. The good news is that there is no reason for any man to suffer any longer because premature ejaculation, whether it’s a problem with sexual functioning or personal preference, can be fixed.
What Causes Premature Ejaculation?
The body’s sexual response is incredibly complex, involving a variety of factors, so there are many possible physical and psychological causes of sexual dysfunction. In order to understand these potential causes, you must first understand what happens in the body when you have an erection. Well, in the simplest of terms, an erection involves your nervous and vascular symptoms, which are networks of veins, arteries and hormones. So, experiencing premature ejaculation can be the result of one of these systems being disrupted which can be caused by things, such as:
- Conditions or behaviors that increase the risk of vascular disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, etc.
- Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes
- Thyroid disorders
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Hypogonadism (the testicles don’t produce enough testosterone)
- Pituitary growths
- High levels of a hormone called prolactin
- Diseases that affect your nervous system, such as spinal cord injuries, strokes, M.S., diabetes and Parkinson’s disease
- Leaky veins
- Heart disease
- Conditions that affect the penis, including injury to the penis or the arteries, nerves and veins that supply the penis
- Blockages in blood flow to the penis
However, it’s quite rare for premature ejaculation to be caused by medical conditions as such. Instead, it’s the result of other physical, psychological and emotional factors. For example, common physical causes are:
- An underlying erectile dysfunction diagnosis
- A hormonal imbalance with oxytocin levels, luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Low serotonin or dopamine levels (brain chemicals that are involved in sexual desire and excitement).
- A penis that is extra sensitive to stimulation
There are also many psychological causes that tend to be the biggest driving factors, such as:
- Anxiety (Particularly performance anxiety)
- Stress
- Guilt
- Relationship problems
- Depression
- Shame or embarrassment
- Insecurities
- Sexual aversion disorder
- Learned behavior of fast ejaculation due to frequent masturbation
How is premature ejaculation treated?
There are many different treatments available for premature ejaculation and the best one for you largely depends on the cause of your symptoms specifically. For example, treatment that addresses performance anxiety when the issue is caused by a medical condition isn’t going to be as effective as if you were to make lifestyle changes that improve your condition, and vice versa. However, treatment for premature ejaculation typically involves behavioral therapy, counseling and/or medications. Your treatment plan will start with behavior therapy and/or counseling to help with the emotional and mental health factors, such as performance anxiety. Then, if needed, medication may be prescribed.
There is also the natural treatment option, which consists of behavioral therapy techniques, stress relief strategies, self-help practices, and natural remedies.
Here are some effective methods to use to begin treating your premature ejaculation and regaining control of your orgasms:
Behavioral therapy techniques are designed to help you learn how to control your body. Some methods to try are:
- Start and stop technique: Stimulate your penis close to the point of orgasm then stop the stimulation for 30 seconds until you regain control of your response. Repeat three to four times before allowing yourself to orgasm. Continue to practice this method until you have the control you desire.
- Distracted thinking technique: Focus your attention on nonsexual things while you’re being sexually stimulated to gain control of your orgasms. For example, visualize and name all the businesses you pass on your commute to work, name all the players on your favorite sports team or the products in the aisles of a store you frequent.
- Squeeze therapy technique: Stimulate your penis close to the point of climax then gently squeeze the head of your penis for about 30 seconds so that you start to lose your erection. Repeat this technique a few times before allowing yourself to orgasm. Continue practicing this technique until you have gained good control in delaying your orgasm.
Pelvic floor muscle exercises help train and strengthen the muscles that support sexual function. Studies even found that 47% of men improved erectile function with kegels and 83% of men cured their premature ejaculation through the pelvic floor muscles.
Start by identifying these muscles by cutting off the flow of urine the next time you’re using the bathroom. After you cut it off, let it flow, then cut it off again, then let it flow again. Those muscles you flex and release are your pelvic floor muscles. Then, complete these steps to start strengthening them:
- Tighten and hold for a count of 10
- Then release.
- Practice in sets of 10. The beauty of this exercise, which will result in heightened ejaculatory control and help you last longer in bed, is that you can do it practically anywhere.
Use simple tricks and tips that will help you last longer in bed, such as:
- Skip sex positions that provide too much stimulation, such as doggy style
- Try sex positions that allow for penetration that isn’t as deep or that doesn’t allow for too much in and out movement.
- Slow down and thrust less to decrease the amount of stimulation on the head of your penis, which can help delay orgasms
- Masturbate regularly to build your stamina up, which can help you last longer in bed
- Practice safe sex and use condoms. Doing so can also help decrease sensitivity to prolong ejaculation
- Masturbate before you plan on having sex to take off that edge
Whether you simply want to last longer in bed or are struggling with premature ejaculation, there are a variety of natural treatments and methods that will help you gain control of your climax. All of these can also be done right in the comfort of your own home, even if you opt to seek professional guidance from a behavioural therapist or counsellor. So, there’s nothing stopping you from getting your mojo back.
