It happens to the best of us. Finishing too early in the bedroom can be embarrassing, but it’s actually much more common than you might think. The medical term for this is premature ejaculation, or PE, and it affects up to 31% of Australian men.
As a GP in Sydney, I treat many patients both in person and online for premature ejaculation. Regardless of the method through which we communicate, they all wonder whether or not they can prevent it from happening in the first place. It all depends on what type of premature ejaculation you’re experiencing and what’s causing it in the first place.
What type of PE do you have?
By definition, there are two types of premature ejaculation. Lifelong premature ejaculation, or primary PE, is long term and has been an issue since your first sexual activity.
Acquired premature ejaculation, or secondary PE, is caused by psychological and physical factors. Anxiety, stress, depression and negative sexual experiences can all contribute to acquired PE, as well as diabetes, prostate disease and high blood pressure. Some lifestyle factors can also lead to acquired PE, like alcohol and drug use and smoking.
How to address and prevent premature ejaculation
There are different ways to address your condition depending on what the underlying cause is. For example, you can make lifestyle modifications like drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking and generally adopting a healthy lifestyle to help improve your symptoms. If your PE is caused by underlying psychological problems, going to counselling to help manage and overcome these problems could also help you delay ejaculation.
You might also try some natural remedies for PE, such as kegel pelvic floor exercises and various techniques to help delay ejaculating. For example, the stop-start technique is when you start having sex or masturbating and stop as you get close to finishing to give yourself time to relax and delay orgasm. You might also try the pause-squeeze technique, where you squeeze the area between the shaft and the glans of the penis to stop ejaculation. Both of these can be done by yourself or with a partner.
Some men also find success by masturbating before sex. This method could make it harder to finish again so soon after and it’s not scientifically proven. However, it’s an easy and low risk approach to try.
If natural remedies and lifestyle changes aren’t helping, you can explore prescription premature ejaculation treatments. Talk to your doctor about your medical history and symptoms face-to-face or consult a digital health service for premature ejaculation treatment online.
Finishing too quickly in the bedroom can be uncomfortable to talk about, but rest assured that it’s a common condition that can be treated. The first step is identifying causes and discussing with your doctor the best treatment plan for you.
Bio:
Dr Joseph Santos is a registered GP and medical director at Rosemary Health, a digital service connecting Australians to quality healthcare online. With over 15 years of experience, Dr Santos has an interest in men’s health issues ranging from sexual health to chronic conditions.