Delaying ejaculation: what treatment?

24 Jun 2022

Whether or not they are affected by premature ejaculation, 90% of men would like sexual intercourse to last longer. To meet this need, a great many different treatments and devices have come along, including sex therapy, anatomically-shaped condoms, and delaying sprays. How can you know which one is right?

How to know if you are concerned by premature ejaculation?

Before examining solutions for lasting longer in bed, it is important to determine whether or not you are concerned by premature ejaculation. You should know that 20% to 30% of all men feel affected by it at some point in their lives. It is the most frequent male sexual dysfunction.

Some men consider themselves premature ejaculators even though they do not actually meet the medical criteria:

  1. Ejaculation less than one minute after penetration in over 90% of sexual relations. On the other hand, ejaculating in two or three minutes is not considered “premature”; in such cases, the proper term is rapid ejaculation.
  2. The man concerned is incapable of holding back or controlling his ejaculation.
  3. Persistence of this issue can have psychological repercussions including loss of self-confidence and sexual performance anxiety.

So-called “rapid ejaculation” the first time you have sex, or with a new partner is completely normal. Rapid ejaculation becomes a problem only if the issue persists.

Different types of premature ejaculation

There are several types of premature ejaculation. They are defined according to rate of occurrence, apparent causes, or the man’s subjective feelings. Premature ejaculation may be broken down into four categories:

  • Primary premature ejaculation: the issue occurs at the start of a man’s sex life and persists if he does not find an effective premature ejaculation treatment
  • Secondary or acquired premature ejaculation: the problem appears abruptly. This often stems from underlying causes (e.g. illness, erectile dysfunction, emotional state, changes in habits.)
  • Natural premature ejaculation: isolated incidents, such as at the start of a new relationship. Even if such incidents are natural, they can have a negative psychological impact leading to sexual performance anxiety.
  • Pseudo-premature ejaculation (PPE): although penetration time is normal (5 to 25 minutes), the man is anxious that he might ejaculate too fast. Just like the other causes of premature ejaculation, PPE can have a negative psychological impact

 

What are the causes of premature ejaculation?

There are several biological factors that can contribute to premature ejaculation, such as hypersensitivity of the glans, hyperexcitability of the ejaculatory reflex, or serotonin deficiency. There may be psychological factors as well, such as an emotional shock, a sudden change in life, or early behavioural conditioning (e.g. upbringing, masturbation habits).

Delaying ejaculation: possible treatments

From homoeopathy to delaying sprays, there is a wide range of treatments to delay ejaculation during sexual intercourse.

Using condoms to delay ejaculation

Condoms, especially the thicker varieties, can help prolong sexual intercourse by reducing penile sensitivity. Some models are especially designed for this purpose:

  • Anatomically-shaped condoms fit more closely over the glans, reducing sensibility in this area.
  • Climax-control condoms are coated with a local anaesthetic, such as benzocaine or lidocaine, which dulls sensation in the penis for the duration of intercourse. It should be applied 5 minutes before penetration to be effective.

In addition, a lubricant can also be used to delay ejaculation by reducing friction during penetration.

Wearing a penis ring may also help prolong intercourse

Some penis rings are designed to delay ejaculation. They work by restricting blood flow at the base of the penis, which naturally desensitises this area, to last longer in bed. Although there is demand for such rings, their effectiveness has yet to be clinically proven.

Local anaesthetics that can delay ejaculation

Some local anaesthetics can be used to reduce the sensitivity of the glans during intercourse. An example of this is lidocaine, available in gel, cream or spray form. It acts rapidly and lasts long enough for the entire sexual relation. Whereas gels and creams must be applied manually and therefore require handwashing, a spray can be applied more discretely. This solution is available online or at pharmacies. It may be used alone or in combination with other solutions (condoms, rings, medical treatments).

Delaying ejaculation with natural solutions

Although their effectiveness has not yet been clinically proven, certain natural ingredients are believed to reduce the risk of premature ejaculation. A few examples are valerian, passiflora, tilia, and Bach flower remedies. By helping to relax muscles, these herbs may attenuate the ejaculatory reflex.

Similarly, some homoeopathic treatments and food supplements are sometimes recommended (e.g. tryptophan, griffonia simplicifolia). These substances are intended to boost serotonin secretion, but their efficacy has not been clinically proven.

 

Last longer in bed: with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

The active ingredient of this medication is dapoxetine. It is a prescription drug. Taken one to three hours before intercourse, it delays ejaculation by boosting serotonin production. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in controlling the ejaculatory reflex. Nevertheless, the medicine may have side effects. Consult your doctor before use.

Learning to delay ejaculation through sex therapy

Aside from pharmacological or natural treatment, sex therapy is away to understand the origin of premature ejaculation in greater depth. It is often recommended for men who suffer from premature ejaculation. There are two main types of therapy:

  • The behavioural (or sexocorporal) method focuses on exercises to better identify pre-ejaculatory sensations. This includes working on posture and breathing to keep excitement in check. Therapy typically requires five to ten sessions with a qualified psychologist or sex therapist.
  • Classic psychotherapy is a longer practice focussing on emotional and psychological factors contributing to premature ejaculation. It involves becoming aware of and working on the root causes of overexcitability during the sexual act (e.g. emotional shock, upbringing, performance anxiety).

 

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Sources :

Ejaculation précoce: causes, symptômes & traitements | Creapharma [Consulté le 5 novembre 2021]. Disponible à l’adresse: https://www.creapharma.ch/ejaculation-precoce.htm

 Ejaculation précoce: Définition, causes, symptômes et traitement, [sans date]. Ordonnance En Ligne. [Consulté le 5 novembre 2021]. Disponible à ladresse: https://www.ordonnance-en-ligne.com/ejaculation-precoce/

 Ejaculation précoce: les causes et solutions, [sans date]. [en ligne]. [Consulté le 4 novembre 2021]. Disponible à ladresse: https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Maux/Problemes/Fiche.aspx?doc=ejaculation-precoce

 Éjaculation précoce: les traitements pour retarder l’éjaculation, ZAVA. [Consulté le 3 mai 2022]. Disponible à l’adresse: https://www.zavamed.com/fr/traitements-ejaculation-precoce.html

 Ejaculation précoce: traitement médicamenteux ou approche sexologique?, [sans date]. Revue Médicale Suisse. [Consulté le 3 mai 2022]. Disponible à ladresse: https://www.revmed.ch/revue-medicale-suisse/2008/revue-medicale-suisse-150/ejaculation-precoce-traitement-medicamenteux-ou-approche-sexologique

 Quelles sont les causes de l’éjaculation précoce ? Medipedia. [Consulté le 5 novembre 2021]. Disponible à l’adresse: https://fr.medipedia.be/ejaculation-precoce/causes/quelles-sont-les-causes-de-l-ejaculation-precoce

 SEREFOGLU, Ege C. et SAITZ, Theodore R., 2012. New insights on premature ejaculation: a review of definition, classification, prevalence and treatment. Asian Journal of Andrology. novembre 2012. Vol. 14, n° 6, pp. 822829. DOI 10.1038/aja.2012.108.

 Sondage IFOP | L’éjaculation précoce, sous estimée? | Charles, charlesco. [Consulté le 3 mai 2022]. Disponible à ladresse: https://www.charles.co/ifop-ejaculation-precoce/