What are the causes of premature ejaculation?

Psychological factors

The causes of premature ejaculation are often linked to psychological factors: a bad experience, performance anxiety, difficult situation… What mechanisms are involved?

Reaction to change and emotions

Premature ejaculation can occur suddenly at a point in a man’s life. In this case, the cause is often psychological. Relationship problems, new partner, stress at work, social phobia, depression… Any brutal change or complicated period can activate a stress loop and have an impact on your sex life. Anxiety tends to speed up ejaculation. The stress loop activates the human body’s automatic reflexes, which indirectly stimulates the secretion of adrenalin and anaesthetises sensations prior to ejaculation. It is harder to delay ejaculation in these circumstances.

Anxiety and performance anxiety

One of the frequent causes of early ejaculation is sexual performance anxiety (8). This is a type of stress caused by fear of not being able to satisfy your partner or wanting to last longer in bed (7). These thoughts provoke a fear of failure and stimulate the secretion of adrenalin. It’s a vicious circle. A man affected by premature ejaculation worries and experiences more and more frequent episodes of premature ejaculation. This state of fear is amplified by the memory of these bad sexual experiences. Fear of failure gradually settles in and leads to avoidance of sexual relations in the most serious cases. This factor in turn reinforces the vicious circle since low sexual activity is a risk factor for premature ejaculation.

In this type of situation, do not hesitate to consult a sex therapist to work through your fears and break out of this vicious circle.

Neurobiological vulnerability

In the case of premature ejaculation observed since the start of sexual relations, a serotonin imbalance may be the cause. This neurotransmitter inhibits ejaculation.  Some people suffer from an imbalance in brain receptors which reduces the transmission of serotonin.  The reduced level of serotonin no longer correctly acts as an inhibitor and the risk of premature ejaculation is increased.  This is the case of hereditary forms of premature ejaculation.

Disorders and illnesses triggering premature ejaculation

Some disorders and illnesses trigger premature ejaculation. They include pelvic pain syndrome, multiple sclerosis, changes in levels of sex hormones, erectile dysfunction and hyperthyroidism.

Possible solutions whatever the cause of premature ejaculation

Whatever the cause, many treatments for premature ejaculation (10) exist: condoms and penis rings, local anaesthetics, sex therapy, medical treatment… This wide range of possibilities helps you choose the solution that is best adapted to feeling the most sexually fulfilled.