Premature Ejaculation: What REALLY Causes It —​ And What To Do About It

If you have sex regularly, then chances are you've experienced premature ejaculation at least once. There are no definite criteria that can be used to diagnose this sexual disorder as it can vary from one person to another.

But, generally, if you've ejaculated before you're completely satisfied yourself and your partner during sexual intercourse, then you have experienced premature ejaculation. If this happens to you on rare occasions, then you are advised not to stress too much about it as ejaculating prematurely is natural every now and then.

But, if you experience this regularly, then you may want to consider looking into the condition, educating yourself about the causes, and finding solutions to help you last longer.

Your partner may be okay if you do not fully satisfy them once or twice, but if it keeps happening, it may become a problem.

Do You Have Premature Ejaculation?

Ejaculating within one minute after penetrating or ejaculating after five minutes are really the same thing when both partners are satisfied in that time. The problem develops when both partners do not gain an adequate level of satisfaction before the man ejaculates. 

The disorder is described as a man's inability to have control over his own ejaculations. Some publications claim that if a man ejaculates within one minute after penetration, then he is also ejaculating prematurely.

The fact that men often find it uncomfortable to discuss situations like premature ejaculation with a doctor makes it difficult to determine the prevalence of the disorder among the global male population.

One study that was conducted in 2006 reported a 30 percent prevalence of the disorder among men. A more recent study provided more detailed prevalence information about premature ejaculation. The study reports that around 25.8 percent of the Chinese male population and approximately 19.8 percent of the Turkish male population have this sexual disorder.

Even though the prevalence seems to be relatively high, a mere 2.74 percent (average) of the population have lifelong premature ejaculation, while others have acquired, variable and subjective premature ejaculation.

Why Do You Have Premature Ejaculation?

If you find yourself reaching orgasm and ejaculating too soon most of the times you are participating in sexual intercourse, then you may have premature ejaculation, one of the many male sexual disorders that cause havoc on a man's sex life.

The first step to treating the condition is usually not to seek an actual treatment method, but rather to identify possible causes in your own life. 

By taking care of these potential causes, your condition may improve. Some common causes of premature ejaculation include:

1. Anxiety

This is a common problem that can cause a man to ejaculate before he wants to. Anxiety is also a condition that is experienced by many people. The VA Boston Healthcare System reports that at least 22 percent of all men experience symptoms of anxiety at least once in their lifetime.

Anxiety during sexual intercourse can be caused by various factors, such as a traumatic sexual experience in the past, guilty feelings, and a low self-esteem.

2. Depression

Depression is a more serious psychological problem than anxiety and, as reported by the American Psychological Association, affects about 9 percent of American men on a daily basis.

Other possible causes include over-stimulation, being too excited during sexual activities, not being experienced in bed, and stress caused by a relationship.

Some medication conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, multiple sclerosis and prostate disease can also lead to premature ejaculation. Furthermore, the use of illicit drugs and excessive consumption of alcohol can cause this and many other male sexual disorders to become worse.

Can Premature Ejaculation Be Treated?

If you have identified any potential causes and made adjustments in your lifestyle to avoid this problem but still ejaculate too soon frequently, then you may want to look at some treatment options to help you gain back control over your own ejaculations.

There are two main types of treatments available for men who experience premature ejaculation:

1. Medication

Certain anti-depressants (specifically SSRI types) can be used, as well as PDE5 inhibitors (which includes common drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, such as Cialis and Viagra).

Some doctors prescribe a topical anesthetic to the patient, which is applied to the tip of the penis to reduce sensitivity. In some cases, penile injections can also be used. All of these options can, however, result in side-effects; thus patients are advised to be cautious when they opt for any treatment option that includes the use of medication.

2. Counseling And Sex Therapy

Both behavioral and psychological therapy can be used to help men overcome anxiety, stress and depression symptoms that may be causing them to ejaculate too quickly during sex.

A sex therapist can also recommend certain exercises and techniques, such as Kegel exercises, to help the man be in control of their body during sex.

Premature ejaculation can be embarrassing when it happens with a new partner. It can also cause problems with your own self-esteem and lead to less frequent sessions of sex as you may be worried about ejaculating too soon.

The problem affects millions of men and there are methods for overcoming the problem. Self-education should be the first step, but taking action is also an important part of gaining control.