Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is a problem that affects a lot of men. Most studies estimate that between 25 percent and 40 percent will face problems related to premature ejaculation at some point in their lives. This is by far the most common sexual problem, especially in men under forty years of age.

It can be tricky to define premature ejaculation with specific numbers, because the parameters vary from one man to another. For example, if a man (and his partner) is usually satisfied after ten minutes of sexual activity, then it is not really a problem if he tends to ejaculate shortly after that point. On the other hand, other men may consider it a problem if they ejaculate any sooner than the twenty-minute mark, or later. The bottom line: Premature ejaculation is generally used to refer to an occurrence where the man ejaculates way before he wants to, and before he wished to climax or conclude the sexual activity.

When trying to get to the root of a premature ejaculation problem, it is important to recognize whether this is a long-term chronic condition or something relatively new. If the man has always had this problem, this could signal a medical cause. If it just started recently, a psychological cause — or a new medical condition — could be to blame.

Causes of Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation can be caused by a number of factors, both physical and psychological. In the majority of cases — especially where the man previously enjoyed a “normal” sex life and suddenly started having problems — a psychological cause is to blame. This may include severe “performance anxiety,” depression, or stress. Occasionally a medical condition, such as a problem in the urinary tract, may be a factor.

Is climaxing too quickly a sign of a medical problem?

Almost every man has an occasional experience where he climaxes too quickly, and this is nothing to be concerned with if it only happens once in a while. However, if it happens during a significant percentage of the man’s sexual encounters, most experts would consider this a problem that needs to be addressed.

Effects of Premature Ejaculation

Technically, a man may be the only one who actually experiences premature ejaculation, but it can greatly affect his female partner, as well. She may be left frustrated and unsatisfied if the lovemaking session ends too quickly, before she has a chance to get “warmed up” or have an orgasm. Meanwhile, the man will have many negative emotions as well, including shame, frustration, anger, and embarrassment. Over time, this can end up causing a lot of stress and tension in the relationship. At the very least, the couple will find themselves less likely to even attempt to have sex, and pretty soon they may cease any sexual activity at all.

Mastering ejaculation control and multiple orgasm techniques can come in handy for any man, but can be especially beneficial for men who experience problems with premature ejaculation.

Treatment

The first step in treating a premature ejaculation problem is discussing it with your doctor. Do not be embarrassed — your doctor has almost surely heard about this from lots of patients before. Your doctor will want to get all the details on your general medical history, as well as your sexual history — particularly your sexual encounters coinciding with the start of this problem.

If a medical problem is suspected (which is relatively uncommon with regard to premature ejaculation), your doctor will probably refer you to a urologist or other specialist. More likely, though, your doctor will suspect a psychological culprit is to blame and will recommend that you consult a therapist or psychologist.

Most men find that a combination of therapy and sexual training techniques (which emphasize ejaculation delay and control) can be very effective in reducing or eliminating the problem. The good news? For the majority of men, this is a temporary problem that can be treated and/or cured, and a fulfilling sex life can soon be enjoyed again.