What Is The Meaning Of Premature Ejaculation?
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A Psychotherapist with Clinical specialization, working for over seven years now. Areas of specialization range from Anxiety-related disorders, Mood-related disorders, Personality disorders, Sexual dysfunctions & other mental health issues.
Why This Was Upated?
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information became available.
Updated on 08 June, 2024
- Article was updated as part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Definition Of Premature Ejaculation
Premature ejaculation, sometimes referred to as rapid ejaculation or a decreased time to ejaculation refers to when an individual ejaculation before or shortly after sexual intercourse – they can’t voluntary control their ejaculation. PE can have an impact both on physical and psychological health affecting sexual relationships, forms of sexual activity, and sexual function in general.
While there is no correct time or ‘time limit’ to explain how long one should last during sex before ejaculating, the consensus among specialists is:
If a man ejaculates before penetration or lasts less than 2 minutes after penetration (all or most of the time), and/or if it leads to frequent dissatisfaction for him or his partner, he may have PE.
How Does Ejaculation Work?
During sexual activity – intercourse or outercourse – sexual stimulation allows for an individual to feel aroused. When an erection occurs shortly thereafter, the friction during sexual intercourse or any other forms of sexual activity allows for impulses to reach the spinal cord and then the brain.
Ejaculation is considered to be a reflex (an ejaculatory reflex) that is controlled by the CNS or central nervous system. When an individual reaches orgasm, ejaculation or release of semen occurs.
What are the different types of PE
Different Types of Premature Ejaculation
Primary Premature Ejaculation
Symptoms of PE occur all or most of the time during sexual encounters – including the first few ones.
Secondary Premature Ejaculation
Symptoms of PE occur after previous sexual encounters entailed no ejaculatory issues. In simple terms it means that the man did not have PE earlier, but, developed it later on in his sexual life.
Ejaculatory sexual dysfunction includes:
- Premature ejaculation
- Delayed ejaculation
- Retrograde ejaculation
Premature Ejaculation (PE): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Diagnosis</h2 id=”6″>
Premature Ejaculation Causes
PE is a common sexual disorder and has a variety of risk factors and causes associated with it. Understanding the causes behind Premature Ejaculation will allow you to identify the symptoms you may be experiencing. Just like most sexual concerns such as Erectile Dysfunction, PE too has its causes divided into two factors:
- Psychological factors: Contrary to popular belief, sexual disorders can be caused due to psychological concerns such as depression or anxiety.
- Physical factors
- Medical or chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular risk factors
- Hormone fluctuations
- Brain chemical imbalance such as Neurotransmitters levels can be irregular
- Reproductive infections such as in the prostate or the urethra
- Addictions or sexual disorders: Porn addiction, Erectile Dysfunction
Your sexual health is significantly impacted by both your physical and mental health.
Premature Ejaculation Symptoms
The main symptom of Premature Ejaculation is ejaculation before penetration or less than 2 minutes after penetration – all or most of the time. PE can affect individuals at all ages and can impact sexual experiences as well – especially when experienced at a young age.
While there is only one main symptom of Premature Ejaculation, there are some negative domino effects that can affect an individuals life. Some of those include:
- Infertility: If the individual is unable to ejaculate into the vagina, conceiving may become challenging
- Interpersonal concerns with sexual partners
- Insecurity and self-esteem concerns
- The increased chances of acquiring sexual disorders such as Erectile Dysfunction
- Experiencing Performance Anxiety
Premature Ejaculation Treatment
Premature Ejaculation involves the lack of control over ejaculation. As mentioned above, there could be a variety of causes that could lead to PE symptoms. The goal of Premature Ejaculation treatment is to treat the exact cause behind an individuals symptoms. However, there are first-line or most common treatments for this condition which fall under two categories:
- Topical Anaesthetics: anaesthetic sprays and creams such as lidocaine, prilocaine, or benzocaine
- Oral Medications: These include antidepressants, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5), and analgesics.
- Lifestyle Exercises: The stop-start method or the squeeze method
- Psychological Therapy: Couples therapy, individual therapy, behavioural therapy
The medications have a particular prescription dosage and should be taken following the advice of a medical professional.
Premature Ejaculation Diagnosis: When to see a doctor?
Due to the stigma associated with sexual dysfunctions, many individuals experiencing Premature Ejaculation hesitate to seek help from a sexual health expert or professional. While it is common that many are nervous to see a doctor, in a majority of the cases diagnosing Premature Ejaculation does not require a physical exam. Symptoms of PE can affect sexual performance, and affect mental health – if you are having any concerns or symptoms related to ejaculatory functioning – such as early ejaculation – we encourage you to reach out to a professional.
Due to the various causes behind PE, a holistic evaluation can provide the necessary insights on your symptoms. Based on this and your medical history, your PE symptoms and its underlying causes will be treated.
You should see your doctor if you are having:
- Doubts or concerns regarding rapid ejaculation
- If you’re experiencing any sexual dysfunction related to erections or ejaculation
- You have been diagnosed with chronic health conditions that can be a risk factor for Premature Ejaculation
Key Takeaways
- PE can lead to infertility or other sexual concerns such as Performance Anxiety or Erectile Dysfunction. It is important to speak to a professional at the earliest if you are experiencing symptoms.
- Delaying treatment can affect the effectivity of treatment: we encourage you to not ignore any symptoms you may be having.
- There is non-judgmental care and treatment available. Try to overcome your fears in approaching a professional. An online consultation from the comfort of your own home gives you more control of your health.
- Leave the internet out of this: your treatment and care has to be unique to your needs. Treatment for Premature Ejaculation is based on your symptoms, its duration and severity and your sexual wellness goals.