Can premature ejaculation be controlled?

Premature ejaculation is where a man ejaculates too quickly whilst partaking in sexual intercourse. This is a common ejaculation problem in men.

What consists as premature?

A study of 500 couples found that the average time for ejaculation was around five minutes and thirty seconds. Although premature ejaculation could be any time before that, however in general it is seen as when men ejaculate before one minute of starting sexual intercourse.

If ejaculation times is causing an issue in your relationship then it can be treated.

Types of premature ejaculation

There are two main types of premature ejaculation. Firstly, if you have always suffered from the problem, or if you have recently developed the problem.

The causes of premature ejaculation if you have always suffered from it are usually psychological, this can include traumatic previous experiences.

If you have recently developed a premature ejaculation problem then the cause is likely to be physical or psychological. Physical problems can include drinking too much alcohol or inflammation of the prostate gland.

Treatment for premature ejaculation

If your premature ejaculation is caused by a physical condition then treating the underlying condition should help you. 

Treating premature ejaculation caused by psychological factors can be more difficult, however you can see a sex therapist who may be able to help with this.

Self help treatment

There are some techniques that can help you to improve your ejaculation time before seeking medical help. These include:

• masturbating before sex
• using thicker condoms to decrease feeling
• deep breathing
• having sex with your partner on top, allowing you to pull away when you are close to ejaculation
• improved breathing during sex to distract about the act

If you are in a long term relationship then you may want to go to couples therapy with a sex therapist to help you improve your time spent having sexual intercourse.

In sex therapy you will be encouraged to explore issues that may be affecting your relationship as well as being given advice on how to resolve them.

Medication for premature ejaculation

You can take SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) that will help to delay ejaculation. If you fail to respond to this treatment then your doctor may suggest a different, off-label version.

There are other creams and sex essentials that are designed to delay ejaculation.