Premature ejaculation is a prevalent sexual dysfunction affecting men all around the globe. The disorder can affect a man’s self-esteem while devastating relationships. There are multiple ways it challenges a person’s self-confidence and affects his entire personality.
It is crucial to understand the complex nature of this disorder and get timely help. In this blog, we discuss premature ejaculation in detail, including its symptoms, causes, and treatment strategies.
Table of Contents
Premature ejaculation – What is it?
Premature ejaculation is a sexual disorder that affects men and is characterized by a lack of control over ejaculation during sexual intercourse. It may happen before or just after a man penetrates his partner, which causes dissatisfaction in both partners. It is common to have an accident occasionally, and should not be considered problematic. However, if it keeps happening over and over, you might need to see a good sexologist.
Studies claim that 30%- 40% of men worldwide have PE at some point. These numbers are huge and call for a deeper understanding of the issue.
Most men try to cover up by either blaming their partner or avoiding intimacy, which is not the right way to handle the situation. Educating yourself and getting early help is crucial to leading a healthier relationship.
Why should you address the condition?
PE will significantly affect your relationship if the problems go on for a longer period. The man in question may feel embarrassed and avoid being intimate with their partner. Not being sexually satisfied will build frustration in both parties and will show in the quality of the relationship.
Directly or indirectly, the conflicts will arise, and you may see more fights than ever before. The dynamics change and both partners may constantly start feeling irritated with each other. It will affect the man’s self-esteem, confidence, and overall personality. The relationship may not take the burden and might even fall apart. It is important to understand that PE is treatable, and if you seek medical intervention on time, you can save yourself and your relationship.
PE symptoms
Knowing and recognizing the symptoms may help you understand the condition and take external help when required. Although the timings of ejaculation vary, we normally characterize that less than a minute between penetration and ejaculation may qualify as premature ejaculation. However, it varies from person to person, and no set pattern can be applied to every person around the world.
These are common symptoms of the condition –
Ejaculation timing: The main symptom of PE remains ejaculating too early while being intimate with your partner.
Lack of control: One may feel they lack control over ejaculation timing and are unable to prolong the time between penetration and ejaculation.
Personality changes: Men with PE may associate intimacy with anxiety and failure. They may feel embarrassed and frustrated, which changes their core personality.
How can you differentiate between normal and early ejaculation?
Ejaculation timings may vary from person to person, and there is no set protocol. Understanding the difference between average and early ejaculation can help you identify the issue early on. Normal timings depend on age, physical fitness, and experience.
The ejaculation timing may be less than a minute or two, but if both partners are satisfied with intimacy, there is no reason for you to worry.
This is how you can differentiate –
Frequency: Men with PE disorder tend to ejaculate within one minute of penetration, and that happens almost every time they try to be intimate.
Relationship quality—If PE affects your relationship quality, it might indicate deeper issues in the relationship. When ejaculation timing is causing dissatisfaction, you should address the issue.
Emotional well-being: If having a lack of control over ejaculation timing is stressing you and taking a toll on your emotional well-being, you should consider seeking help.
PE Causes
Premature ejaculation can happen due to various reasons, including physical, psychological, and physiological factors. It is crucial to know about various causes to help differentiate the condition from normal.
Let us look at the causes below –
Physical Factors
Hormonal imbalance: One of the most common reasons for PE can be hormonal imbalance. A hormone named serotonin has mainly been linked to ejaculation issues.
Moreover, testosterone, a primary male sex hormone, is required for proper sexual functioning. An imbalance can cause various sexual disorders, including premature ejaculation.
Physical ailments: Various conditions like thyroid disorder or prostate problems may affect hormonal balance in the male body. The disruption can showcase a negative impact on sexual function via disturbing ejaculation time in men.
Genetics: Genetic predisposition plays a major role in carrying PE forward. Studies suggest that PE can be passed on in a family and impact ejaculation timing.
Nerve damage: Any neural injury due to diseases or accidents can cause ejaculation issues in men.
Musculature: Weak pelvic musculature can also contribute to premature ejaculation. To control ejaculation timing, it is important to work on pelvic muscle strength.
Psychological factors
Anxiety and stress – Being stressed about anything like work, family, or relationships can impact your mental health. If you have persistent stress for any reason, there are chances it may affect your sexual functioning. Performance anxiety can also manifest in the form of premature ejaculation in some men.
Relationship dissatisfaction: A challenging relationship with unresolved conflicts may increase the gap between two people. It may even reflect in the quality of your intimate relationship in the form of sexual dysfunctions.
Behavioural patterns
Masturbation: Compulsive masturbation may have a negative impact on real intimate behavior. Excessive masturbation may cause desensitization, where a man takes less time to ejaculate than average.
Timing: Rushing through the process of sexual intimacy due to reasons like anxiety or concentrating on your own pleasure can contribute to rapid ejaculation.
You can consult a sexologist who can help you figure out the exact cause of ejaculation disorder. Finding the root cause will help the expert suggest a suitable treatment plan that will work for your specific set of reasons.
PE Treatment
Premature ejaculation treatment is available with various strategies. The sexologist will choose the most suitable treatment plan for you. The common protocols that can help you include –
Behavioural Techniques – These are behavioural pattern changes that help you gain control over ejaculation.
- Start-stop method – During this method, a person tries to stop ejaculation just before they are about to ejaculate. Then, the person tries to let go of the high feeling and start again. You can do this with or without your partner. Mastering the technique will slowly shift gears and help you regain the lost control.
- Squeeze technique – In this method, the person squeezes the base of the penis when they feel they are about to ejaculate. One can redo the entire process again to learn to delay ejaculation.
Medications – Your sexologist may suggest medication if deemed suitable to help you overcome early ejaculation along with other methods.
Topical anaesthetics – Desensitizing agents in the form of cream, gel, or spray can be applied directly to the penis, which can reduce the sensitivity. Topical agents can help in delaying ejaculation in men.
Exercise – You can learn Kegel exercise to strengthen pelvic musculature. Kegel has been found extremely helpful where weak musculature may cause ejaculation issues in men.
Therapy – If psychological factors contribute to sexual disorders, therapy could be your saviour. Counselling can help you unlearn behaviour patterns and help in combatting stress and anxiety.
Healthy lifestyle – Leading a healthy lifestyle can sometimes be the answer to all health problems, including sexual disorders. A balanced diet and regular physical activity can help uplift physical and mental health, which takes care of sexual health.
Masturbation – Masturbating one or two hours before you plan to be intimate with your partner may reduce sensitivity and delay ejaculation during sexual intercourse.
Support – It is essential to seek support from your partner and have an open discussion about your sexual issues. You may discuss and take their help in performing a few mentioned techniques to prolong ejaculation timing gradually. A supportive partner can help boost confidence and improve sexual performance.
These are a few methods that can help you delay ejaculation timing. It is vital to talk to a health expert and let them help you by finding the root cause. They can make the best combination of various methods that will work best for you.
Bottom Line
Premature ejaculation is more common than we know or talk of. It can have a massive impact on a man’s confidence and self-esteem. Now is the time to realize that these issues are prevalent and can happen to anyone, irrespective of age and physical fitness.
Premature ejaculation, like most other sexual disorders, is treatable, and you need not live your life half-heartedly. You can consult a good sexologist for a personalized treatment plan and relive your desirable sex life.