Premature Ejaculation (PE) Treatments

Premature ejaculation (PE) is medically diagnosed when a man ejaculates within 1 to 3 minutes of penetration during intercourse. Premature ejaculation can also occur during sexual activity before penetration. In some cases, the time frame that denotes ‘premature’ ejaculation may be shorter or longer than 1 to 3 minutes depending on how long the individual or their partner feels is sufficient to delay climax.

Premature ejaculation can be caused by psychological, physical and/or lifestyle-related factors.

Psychological factors that are known to cause premature ejaculation include:

• Stress - Stress raises the body’s levels of a hormone known as cortisol which can disturb the balance of neurotransmitters that regulate arousal, making it more difficult for the brain to control ejaculation.
• Depression - Depression is associated with changes in neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which are involved in sexual desire, arousal and orgasm. These changes may affect ejaculatory control and contribute to premature ejaculation.
• Performance anxiety - Performance anxiety occurs when someone feels nervous about their sexual performance. It activates the sympathetic nervous system and can increase heart rate, muscle tension and adrenaline levels. These changes may make the ejaculatory reflex more difficult to control. Anxiety may also make someone more focused on how quickly they will ejaculate, which can further reduce control.

Physical conditions that can contribute to premature ejaculation include:

• Elevated blood sugar levels (Hyperglycemia) - Persistently high blood sugar levels, such as those caused by diabetes, can damage nerves involved in sexual function. This may disrupt communication between the brain and genital organs and make the ejaculatory reflex harder to control.
• Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) - Thyroid activity can affect metabolic rates and increase overall activity in the sympathetic nervous system, intensifying sexual arousal and reducing control over the ejaculatory reflex. This can subsequently result in premature ejaculation.

Lifestyle-related factors that can cause premature ejaculation include:

• Recreational drug usage - Recreational drugs such as cocaine or cannabis can alter levels of serotonin and dopamine, which help regulate sexual arousal and ejaculation. These changes may make ejaculation more difficult to control.
• Excessive alcohol intake - Similar to recreational drugs, excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt dopamine and serotonin levels, affecting the ability to control ejaculation and resulting in early climax.

Premature ejaculation is not a permanent condition and can be managed by consulting a pharmacist or doctor about taking oral treatments such as Priligy and using numbing sprays such as STUD100.

Moreover, certain lifestyle adjustments can help reduce the probability of experiencing premature ejaculation, including reducing alcohol intake, doing Kegel exercises and managing stress levels.

For more information, please refer to our guide on How To Last Longer In Bed: Treatments & Techniques

Priligy and STUD100 are among the best treatments for premature ejaculation:

• Priligy is an oral premature ejaculation treatment that contains the active ingredient dapoxetine hydrochloride. Dapoxetine affects the brain’s levels of a neurotransmitter known as ‘serotonin’ which helps regulate ejaculatory control in men. The dapoxetine in Priligy tablets increases the availability of serotonin in the brain, delaying the ejaculation reflex signal and subsequently preventing premature ejaculation. For additional information, refer to our Video Guide to Priligy.
• STUD100 is a topical numbing spray that contains lidocaine, a local anaesthetic that helps to reduce sensitivity in the penis during sexual activity, delaying ejaculation.

Erectile dysfunction refers to the inability to achieve and sustain an erection, while premature ejaculation refers to climaxing within 1 to 3 minutes of engaging in sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation can sometimes occur together, however, they are two distinct conditions that require different treatments.

For more detailed information on the similarities and differences of the conditions, please refer to our expert guide - How Erectile Dysfunction Differs To Premature Ejaculation.

Viagra is specifically formulated to help treat erectile dysfunction, not premature ejaculation. For those affected by premature ejaculation, oral tablets such as Priligy and desensitising sprays such as STUD100 are recommended.

Recommended reading: Premature Ejaculation vs Impotence