The Complete Rundown on Stopping Premature Ejaculation (PE)

Up to 40% of men suffer from premature ejaculation or PE. PE happens when you climax and ejaculate sooner than the regular time, specifically, in a minute or two.

While PE may be a cause for concern as far as sexual satisfaction and enjoyment are concerned, most cases can be treated effectively. Generally speaking, there’s no need to be overly concerned with PE irreversibly ruining your sex life.

 

A quick rundown on treating premature ejaculation

 

Treating PE may involve a combination of medicine, behavioral strategies, and exercises such as the following:

 

• • Employing the “Stop-Start” Strategy
  • Using the “ Squeeze Technique”

• Masturbating before engaging in sexual activity
• Performing Kegel exercises
• Seeking professional counseling
• Thinking diversionary thoughts
• Taking SSRI medications
• Using ED drugs
• Using products like penis numbing creams and sprays
• Using thicker condom sizes

 

Learn more about how you could employ these tactics alone or combine them to help you get longer-lasting sexual pleasure.

 

 

 

OK, so how long should it take for me to orgasm?

 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) defines premature ejaculation as an ejaculation that happens within a minute of penetration and before the giver wants to come.

According to the DSM-5 definition, textbook PE is when it happens in virtually all sexual activity, lasts for six months, and cannot be explained by external factors like an underlying medical condition or from taking certain medicines.

 

PE can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Mild PE is when an individual comes within 30 to 60 seconds after penetration, while severe PE is when it occurs within 10-15 seconds of penetration or less.

However, there is a distinction between premature ejaculation and simply climaxing and ejaculating too soon.

Pop culture has led us to believe the assumption that sex needs to last as long as 15 minutes to an hour to satisfy our partners.

However, this just isn’t the case at all – research published in the Indian Journal of Urology found that most men last between 5-7 minutes of penetrative sex.

That’s not to mention the fact that the spectrum is wide as far as the time needed for men to climax and ejaculate. Some men finish up in a couple of minutes, while others can take as long as 30 minutes.

 

It must also be mentioned that this research isn’t perfect. Unlike testing the efficacy of ED drugs, it isn’t practical to test this hypothesis in an inert, fully-controlled laboratory setting between couples.

Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all benchmark of time on how long you should perform before ejaculating. The existing research only demonstrates that most guys take between 5 to 7 minutes – far from what we expect in pop culture or pornography.

Moreover, women are less concerned about men ejaculating too quickly than their male counterparts, as demonstrated in a 2003 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.

In other words, there is no ideal time. While anything less than 60 seconds may be considered textbook PE, it’s perfectly normal to take 5 minutes to “do the deed” as it is to last for half an hour.

The good news? You can employ several strategies and techniques to stop ejaculating sooner than you want.

 

Can I take medicine to prevent or stop premature ejaculation?

 

The short answer is that you might not even need to take medicine to increase the time it takes before you ejaculate.

Most men can work on stopping their PE and increase the time it takes for them to orgasm by employing behavioral therapy, as supported by a study published in the National Journal of Andrology after men were put through twice and thrice-weekly courses of behavioral therapy. This led to the subjects and their partners reporting higher sexual satisfaction scores since men were able to last longer before climaxing and ejaculating afterward.

Moreover, the male subjects reported lower nervousness and performance anxiety issues, which can often add to or worsen PE and other sexual dysfunctions.

 

What exercises can I perform to stop premature ejaculation?

 

Various behavioral techniques have been employed to treat premature ejaculation effectively, such as the following:

 

The “Stop-Start” Technique. 

 

The “stop-start” strategy during sexual intercourse is one of the oldest and most effective ways to prevent PE. 

It works exactly as you think it sounds: before orgasm and ejaculation, just stop for a bit, let the sensation subside, then lather, rinse, and repeat until you’re finally ready to come.  

According to studies and books referring to this strategy, this technique is as simple as stopping sexual intercourse as soon as you feel you’re about to come. As simple as the stop-start technique appears, it’s actually quite effective in treating PE. And since it doesn’t involve treatments that would cost you an arm and a leg, nor any prescription medications, it’s a great starting point for individuals trying to manage their premature ejaculation issues.

 

The “Pause-and-Squeeze” Technique. 

 

Your healthcare provider might instruct you to use this technique, which works just as it sounds (similar to the stop-start technique).

While engaging in sexual intercourse, just before reaching the climax and subsequent ejaculation, firmly squeeze the end of your penis, right where the head meets the shaft, to stop the urge to ejaculate. Squeeze for a few moments until the sensation subsides.

Using the pause-and-squeeze technique can help prolong the time it takes to achieve an orgasm and ejaculation multiple times, preventing you from cumming too soon.

Its downside is that since it brings a pause to your sexual activity and pleasure, it can sometimes be irritating to you and your partner. It may become an annoyance for both you and your partner. It may also take you a bit of time to get erect again, especially if you’re prone to erectile dysfunction (ED).

 

Masturbating before sex. 

 

Masturbating an hour or two before sexual intercourse may help you delay ejaculation when it’s finally time to do the deed with your partner. It’s quite easy and foolproof, too. 

The notion behind this behavioral approach is that since men are unable to orgasm for a few moments after orgasming due to a process known as the refractory period, masturbating before sex might prolong the time it takes for them to cum while having sex. 

Granted, while this approach is largely unproven and only has mostly anecdotal evidence to support it, it’s a free, low-risk technique you can easily employ to try and prolong the time it takes for you to climax and stop yourself from cumming too soon. There’s no harm in trying, is there?

 

Pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises. 

 

Research supports the claim that pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, can help treat premature ejaculation and increase ejaculatory latency.

For instance, it was found that men who performed Kegel exercises for 3 months were able to increase their average time to ejaculation while engaging in sexual intercourse, apart from developing greater ejaculatory reflex control, as published in a 2014 study in the Therapeutic Advances in Urology journal.

Weak pelvic floor muscles can make it harder for some men to delay their ejaculatory reflex, and pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen them.

 

To engage your pelvic floor muscles, start by stopping your urine flow while in the middle of relieving yourself. Alternatively, you can try engaging the muscles that prevent you from farting. Doing so essentially has you doing Kegel exercises. Once you’ve found your pelvic floor muscles, you can exercise them anytime, anywhere – however, you might find it easier to do them while in a supine position while starting. 

Master the technique: tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold it for 3 seconds, then release. Focus solely on tightening the necessary muscles once you’ve found them and repeat thrice daily at ten repetitions for ideal results.

 

Sex therapy or counseling. 

 

Certain psychological and biological factors can contribute to or worsen premature ejaculation and affect each other just as much. Psychological causes of PE are thought to be more likely if premature ejaculation develops in an individual’s life over time.

Psychological factors such as performance anxiety or feelings of guilt about engaging in sexual activity can add to or exacerbate PE. If your premature ejaculation is related to mental health or personal issues, counseling or therapy might be able to help you overcome it. Psychotherapy and counseling are often combined with medicines and behavioral therapy to help you triumph over your psychological stressors and enhance your sex life.

 

Diversionary thinking.

 

Sometimes, diverting your thoughts and worries while having sex can help prolong satisfaction and delay orgasm to prevent PE.

This technique is referred to as diversionary thinking. The idea is that by thinking about things other than sex while engaging in it, you won’t reach the mental stimulation needed to climax and ejaculate.

It could mean thinking about boring, uninspiring subjects such as seeing a proctologist, filing your taxes, or counting backward from 50.

Some individuals find diversionary helpful, but do note that there is no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness as a PE prevention tactic. It might even be detrimental to your sexual pleasure by distracting your focus from having sex.

 

Taking medication for PE.

 

Premature ejaculation is often treated using prescription medication. While there isn’t a medicine developed and approved specifically to treat PE, certain drugs are prescribed off the label to help delay climax and ejaculation in men struggling with PE.

Consult a urologist if you have PE and think that taking off-label medication may help you to learn more about your potential options.

 

Taking Antidepressants (SSRIs).

 

According to a 2007 study published in the Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management journal, men with PE who were prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) showed improvements in sexual function and a substantial reduction in premature ejaculation. 

They were given either paroxetine, escitalopram, or fluoxetine, which are SSRIs used to treat disorders related to anxiety and depression, once daily for a month.

The interesting thing about the study’s findings was that no difference in outcomes was noted despite the men being given different SSRIs, which appears to indicate all three have the potential to treat PE.

However, SSRIs can cause side effects in some cases. They also require a valid prescription to obtain them from your pharmacy. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before considering SSRI use.

 

Taking prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction (ED).

 

PDE5 inhibitor drugs like sildenafil (generic Viagra) are safe and effective treatments for ED that may help extend sexual intercourse and reduce your chances of running into erectile and premature ejaculation issues.

For instance, some men with PE experienced better results using sildenafil than they did with paroxetine or the pause-and-squeeze technique we referred to earlier based on a 2007 study published in the International Journal of Urology.

In another small study published in the Official Journal of the Brazilian Society of Urology, men with ED using tadalafil (generic Cialis) daily experienced a slight improvement in PE symptoms during vaginal intercourse.

However, despite the promising findings, more research needs to be conducted on the effects of PDE5 inhibitor ED drugs on premature ejaculation.

 

Using anesthetic creams, sprays, and similar products.

 

Topical creams, sprays, and balms for PE are available, including products that contain anesthetics such as lidocaine and prilocaine, designed to be applied to the tip of the penis to reduce its sensitivity – allowing you to last longer in bed.

According to the research published in the Andrologia journal, men using a lidocaine/prilocaine anesthetic treatment enabled them to enjoy longer sexual intercourse before orgasm and ejaculation compared to men who used a placebo.

Men given lidocaine spray over eight weeks applied before sex also demonstrated a substantial improvement in ejaculation time and more frequent sex based on a study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research. 

Lidocaine spray not only appears to reduce PE severity but also seems to allow men to enjoy more frequent sexual encounters.`

 

Use thicker condoms.

 

Lastly, if premature ejaculation interferes with your sex life, you might get better results by using ejaculation-delaying thicker condoms that sometimes use a mild anesthetic that slows down the effects of PE.

Using condoms also gives men with PE additional protection against sexually-transmitted diseases.

 

 

Is surgery for premature ejaculation an option?

 

While there are several options involving surgery available to treat PE, the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) doesn’t recommend them since the risk of developing irreversible damage and loss of sexual function may outweigh its benefits, based on a review published in the journal of Translational Andrology and Urology. 

 

The takeaway

Premature ejaculation can be an irritating, bothersome sexual dysfunction that could affect your self-esteem and interfere with your sex life.

Fortunately, PE can be treated using a variety of approaches, such as behavioral therapy or medication, or a combination of either.

Many men with PE have been able to overcome their ejaculatory latency toward living a more satisfying and vigorous sex life. 

If you suspect you have PE, consult a licensed healthcare provider to determine your options.