Treating Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation can hinder you from achieving an ideal sexual intercourse. This sexual problem occurs when men ejaculates sooner than expected in times of a sexual activity. If this happens once in a while, it’s not a major threat to your sexual life at all. 

But if you frequently ejaculate earlier than you or your partner want it to be, you’re probably suffering from premature ejaculation. For this reason, it is best for you to consult a health care professional about your condition so that you will be able to have an idea in treating premature ejaculation. 

Premature Ejaculation Symptoms 

Premature ejaculation (PE for short) is characterized by an early ejaculation during a sexual activity. This sexual problem typically occurs before penetrating the vagina, during the penetration short after starting it, sooner than it should be or earlier than both genders expect it. 

Premature Ejaculation Causes 

Until now, the main reason why premature ejaculation occurs is still unknown. Though the underlying cause is unidentified at present, medical professionals in the United States found some biological and psychological factors that can cause the condition. 

Biological Causes 

1. Common

• Abnormal or Irregular hormone levels 

• Inherited traits

• Infection and/or inflammation of the body’s urethra or prostate

• Some thyroid problems 

• Penile oversensitivity 

• Abnormal reflex of ejaculatory system

• Abnormal brain chemical activity 

2. Rare

• Damaged nervous system resulting from trauma or surgery

• Withdrawal from some medications used in treating mental problems 

Psychological Causes 

• Overexcitement or uncontrollable sexual excitement 

• Performance anxiety in times of a sexual activity

• Guilty feelings that leads you ejaculate earlier so as to end the sexual activity immediately 

• Situations in which having sex is uncertain leading you to hurry in reaching climax so as to avoid problems that may cause embarrassment such as being caught by someone 

Risk Factors 

Factors that can increase your risk from suffering premature ejaculation include: 

• Erectile dysfunction – men can have a higher risk of experiencing premature ejaculation if they suffer from erectile problems either the inability to get an erection or maintain an erection for a considerable amount of time. Your fear from losing erection may lead you to unconsciously or consciously hurry in a sexual activity. 

• Health problems – any disturbing medical conditions that make you feel anxious at times of a sexual activity, such as heart related problems, may lead you to unconsciously ejaculate faster than normal. 

• Stress – mental or emotional strains from your life has a significant contribution to premature ejaculation. More often than not, thinking too much of your problems will make it hard for you to focus and relax during a sexual activity. 

Complications

Though premature ejaculation does not have the ability to trigger the development of any threatening medical conditions, this sexual problem can affect your life.

• Relationship problems – for married couples, an enjoyable sexual life helps make their relationship strong. If a man cannot fully satisfy the sexual desires of his partner, it may result to certain problems that can affect their relationship. If PE is hurting your good relationship, the best thing to do is to go through couple’s therapy so as to solve your relationship issues. 

• Fertility problems – sometimes premature ejaculation makes fertilization seem to be impossible. This makes it hard for couples to conceive a baby. For this reason, treating premature ejaculation is very important. If your ejaculation problems are treated but it is still difficult for you to make a baby, it is best that both of you should have an infertility treatment. 

What to do 

If you’re going to have a sexual activity sooner or later, the best thing to do is to record how much time it takes you to reach your climax. If in most of your sexual activities, you ejaculate for less than 4 or 5 minutes, you’re probably suffering from ejaculation problems. With this, seeking the help of a professional is a must in treating premature ejaculation. 

When to visit a medical professional 

Talk to a health care professional if you normally ejaculate earlier than expected in most of your sexual activities. If PE occurs once in a while, it is still suggested to consult a medical professional so as to prevent the condition from worsening. 

Diagnosis and Tests

• In making the diagnosis, your personal doctor will perform a detailed interview regarding your sexual life so as to determine that you’re suffering from premature ejaculation. Aside from this process, the doctor will also ask you about your overall health history, which may be accompanied by a physical examination if needed. Your doctor may also recommend you to work with a medical professional or a urologist knowledgeable in the field of sexual dysfunction or an expert in mental health so as to make the diagnosis accurate. 

• If it is validated that you’re suffering from premature ejaculation together with erection problems, it will be likely that your doctor will have to perform blood tests so as to evaluate your body’s testosterone levels. 

Treatment Options 

There are many different ways you can use in treating premature ejaculation. These treatment options include psychotherapy, sexual therapy, and medications. If a single treatment method is not enough to improve your condition, combining them can be the best thing for you. 

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy 

Commonly known as talk therapy or counseling, this treatment method is a safe approach in treating premature ejaculation. Cognitive-behavioral therapy involves talking to a professional, specializing in mental health, regarding your experiences and relationships. 

These sessions of conversation can greatly help you to reduce your anxiety from your sexual performance, which in turn can be very useful to increase your confidence. With the use of this therapy, your counselor can find some ways that can help you to cope with stress. 

Counseling can be more effective if used together with medication therapy. Although this method is not as effective as other treatment options, it has a significant contribution in treating premature ejaculation. 

Sexual Therapy 

If you don’t want to use any medications designed for treating premature ejaculation, sexual therapy is ideal for you. This therapy involves simple steps like masturbating two hours before performing a sexual activity. This will greatly help you to delay your ejaculation so you will be able to last longer having sex. 

Your personal doctor may also suggest you to avoid penetrating the vagina immediately after the intercourse starts and focus only on performing foreplay so to reduce pressure and anxiety. 

Squeeze Technique 

One of the best ways to prevent premature ejaculation naturally is to use squeeze technique. 

How to do it

• Begin the intercourse as usual. If you feel that you’re almost going to ejaculate, stop penetrating and pause for a while. After which, you or your partner should squeeze your penis until the feeling to finally ejaculating subside.

• Once the urge is gone, release the penis and wait for at least 20 to 30 seconds before you continue the intercourse. If the penis becomes less erect, initiate foreplay again so as to regain its full size. 

• Repeat the process until you want to ejaculate finally. 

Though it is hard to resist when the feeling to ejaculate occurs, try your best to prevent yourself from reaching your climax. This is the only way you can delay your ejaculation during the sexual activity. 

By repeating the technique as many as you possibly can, you will be able to have sex with your partner as long as you want without totally ejaculating. When you master this method, you can delay your ejaculation even without the use of squeeze technique. With this, you will be able to experience an ideal sexual intercourse for a considerable amount of time every now and then. 

Medications

Certain antidepressants can be very helpful in treating premature ejaculation. Though these medications are not approved by FDA to treat PE, they can be of great help in delaying ejaculation. If you’re planning to use any PE medications, it is highly recommended that you should seek the approval of a medical professional before using it so as to make sure that it is appropriate for your health. 

Antidepressants 

Sometimes side effects can also be beneficial in some purpose. In fact, antidepressants have the ability to delay orgasm and this side effect can greatly benefit those individuals who are suffering from premature ejaculation. Although the use of antidepressants can help prolong a sexual activity, overusing it can cause some undesirable health effects. Before using any antidepressant, consult first your doctor and ask how to properly use it so as to ensure the safety of your health. 

The best selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treating premature ejaculation are paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft). Although it will take 10 days for the medication to take effect, the results are good enough to help you last longer. 

If your condition did not improve from taking any of these medications or they only provide little improvements, your doctor will have to prescribe a more effective drug such as tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine (Anafranil). Although this medication can be very useful in delaying ejaculation, do not overuse it as it may harm your health. 

In treating premature ejaculation through the use of drugs, bear in mind that you should take these medications exactly as instructed by a health care professional so as to avoid any problems that may occur from using it.

Possible Side Effects from Using SSRI 

• Dry mouth 

• Diarrhea 

• Headache

• Rash

• Weight gain

• Insomnia

• Nausea 

• Drowsiness

• Increased nervousness

• Restlessness or agitation 

• Decreased libido

• Erection problems

• Increased sweating

If experience one or more of these side effects after taking any of the medications stated above, seek medical assistance immediately. 

Treating premature ejaculation is absolutely possible. However, make sure to consult a health care professional so as to determine the best treatment option for you.

Thanks

Carson Walter

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