Premature Ejaculation FAQs

1. What is premature ejaculation?
2. How common is premature ejaculation?
3. What is the difference between premature ejaculation and impotence?
4. What physical factors cause PE?
5. What psychological factors cause premature ejaculation?
6. Can my medication cause premature ejaculation?
7. Can premature ejaculation lead to health problems?
8. How can I stop premature ejaculation?
9. Are there medicines I can take?
10. Do I need surgery?

1. What is premature ejaculation?

Most doctors generally agree that if you are unable to sustain sexual intercourse for less than two minutes before orgasm, then you are suffering from premature ejaculation (PE). But premature ejaculation is a sexual condition that's hard to define as most people only have their own personal experiences to use as a reference point. If you are unsure whether you are suffering from this condition, taking an online consultation could help.

2. How common is premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation is common, in both young and older men. It is estimated that as many as one out of three men may be affected by this problem at some time in their lives. PE can occur frequently or from time to time, depending on the root cause of the problem.

3. What is the difference between premature ejaculation and impotence?

Premature ejaculation and impotence are often associated with one another, as both affect your erection. The difference between the two is that impotence is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection to complete sexual intercourse, while premature ejaculation is when intercourse is completed too quickly.

4. What physical factors cause PE?

A number of medical conditions can cause premature ejaculation, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, prostate disease, high blood pressure and an under-active thyroid. Injuries to the pelvic area could also lead to ejaculation problems and certain medications may also affect your ejaculation time.

5. What psychological factors cause premature ejaculation?

Lifelong premature ejaculation problems are almost always psychological. It's believed that conditioning is a major cause, which relates to your early sexual experiences. Other psychological factors that can lead to PE include depression, stress, unresolved emotional problems, and probably the most common cause, anxiety.

6. Can my medication cause premature ejaculation?

There is also a chance that your condition may be a side effect of a particular medication you are taking to treat an unrelated problem. The best way to decide whether medication is the root cause is to speak to a doctor to determine whether this could be a potential side effect. You can also determine this during an online consultation.

A high consumption of alcohol and the use of recreational drugs can also affect the amount of time it takes you to ejaculate during sex.

7. Can premature ejaculation lead to health problems?

If left untreated, PE can have a negative impact on your well-being, and put strain on your sexual relationship. It is wise to talk to someone, either your partner or a doctor, to alleviate the stress this condition may cause.

8. How can I stop premature ejaculation?

There are a number ways to address premature ejaculation. Simple things you can do include wearing a thicker condom or by using delay creams and benzocaine condoms, which both include a mild anaesthetic.

There are a number of behavioural techniques that may also help to delay the time taken to ejaculate during sexual activity. These include the 'stop and squeeze' and the 'stop/start' method, which you can practise alone or with your partner. Both techniques can help you to build stamina and give more control over your ejaculation.

9. Are there medicines I can take?

Certain short-acting selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used to treat premature ejaculation. However, these are not currently licensed in the UK.

10. Do I need surgery?

Operations are seldom advised to treat premature ejaculation, especially as a large proportion of cases are psychologically induced. Instead, you may wish to try various forms of therapy, such as couples therapy or psychosexual therapy. Communicating with your partner or a health specialist is extremely helpful in correcting psychologically caused premature ejaculation.