Rapid Ejaculation?

Rapid or premature ejaculation is a condition where a man ejaculates sooner than he or his partner wishes, typically within 1 to 3 minutes. Many men occasionally ejaculate prematurely. However, it may be diagnosed when it occurs regularly, with minimal sexual stimulation or shortly after penetration, and is causing distress.

The embarrassment of talking about rapid or premature ejaculation keeps many men from seeking medical help. However, it is a very common men’s health condition with several treatment options.

Causes Diagnosis Treatment

Causes

Premature ejaculation impacts 30% to 40% of men at some point in their life. It is most common to develop it early in life with first sexual experiences. However, it can also begin later in life.

There are both psychological and biological factors that can contribute to premature ejaculation, including:

Anxiety or stress
Feelings of guilt or shame around sexual intercourse
Abnormal hormone levels or brain chemicals
Prostate inflammation or infection

Diagnosis

Rapid or premature ejaculation is diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on your sex life, health history and a physical exam.

Treatment

A doctor can recommend many techniques that can be used to delay ejaculation during intercourse. These may include:

The Stop-Start Technique: Typically, the first-line treatment is a series of exercises involving stopping and starting movement and stimulation during intercourse to help control ejaculation.
Sensate Focus Exercises: Touching, tickling, exploring and communication techniques to help couples eliminate anxiety and learn relaxed enjoyment.
Kegel Exercises: Tightening and strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor for 10 seconds, repeated in sets of 15 as many times a day as possible.
SSRIs: A class of antidepressant medication that can delay ejaculation. It is not a cure, only a treatment, so the Stop–Start Technique is preferable as a first-line treatment.

Other treatments may include topical anaesthetic creams that contain lidocaine or prilocaine to dull the sensation on the penis, counselling, and medication.

Talk to your doctor to find the best treatment plan for you.

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Last updated: Feb 2, 2024

Disclaimer: This resource is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide diagnosis or be a substitute for professional medical advice from a healthcare practitioner. You should not use the information provided for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical or health problem, promptly consult your healthcare practitioner.

Rapid Ejaculation