If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

OVERVIEW

What is premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation happens when a man has an orgasm sooner than they or their partner would like. Premature ejaculation can happen before or shortly after penetration.

There is no set time for how long a person should “last” during sex. But when a person has an orgasm before they want to, they lose their erection and can’t continue with intercourse. Premature ejaculation can be frustrating and embarrassing. You may feel you don’t have enough time to enjoy sex. You may have difficulty satisfying your partner. For some men, embarrassment about premature ejaculation can cause problems with intimacy and damage their relationships.

Premature ejaculation is a common problem. Up to 40% of people have this problem at some time in their lives.

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS

What causes premature ejaculation?

A number of emotional and physical factors can lead to premature ejaculation. It may happen when a person becomes too excited or stimulated, or if their penis is very sensitive. It may also happen if a person is nervous or uncomfortable with a new partner. Other common causes include the following:

• Anxiety about performance
• Guilty feelings
• Depression
• Stress
• Relationship problems
• Erectile dysfunction

People who have a low amount of a special chemical called serotonin in their brain may have problems with premature ejaculation.

Is premature ejaculation a sign of a serious health problem?

Not in most cases. Rarely, premature ejaculation results from a serious health problem, such as nervous system damage from surgery or trauma.

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

Can premature ejaculation be prevented or avoided?

This condition can be prevented or avoided, depending on what is causing it. Most of the time, using the behavioral methods listed below will work to prevent it.

Behavioral methods

Behavioral methods are helpful for more than 50% of people who have premature ejaculation. 

In this type of treatment, you practice controlling your ejaculation, either alone or with a partner.

• In the start-and-stop method, you or your partner will stimulate your penis until you feel like you are about to have an orgasm. Then the stimulation stops for about 30 seconds. Once you regain control of your response, stimulation begins again. This process is repeated 3 or 4 times before you allow yourself to have an orgasm.
• The squeeze method works in a similar way. When you feel like you are about to ejaculate, you or your partner will gently squeeze the head of your penis for about 30 seconds so that you begin to lose your erection. You repeat this process several times before you allow yourself to reach orgasm.

In addition to using a behavioral method, you may want to try thought distractions. For example, while you’re being sexually stimulated, think about the names of players on your favorite sports team.

Psychological assistance

Anxiety, depression and other emotional issues can lead to premature ejaculation. For these issues, seeking the help of a psychologist, psychiatrist or sex therapist may be helpful. Couples therapy may also help if relationship problems may be the cause.

Medical treatments

Several medical treatments may help those who have premature ejaculation. Some antidepressants seem to help delay ejaculation, including antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These antidepressants are available with your healthcare provider’s prescription. However, Health Canada has not approved the use of these medicines to treat premature ejaculation. Also, antidepressants may cause side effects such as nausea, dry mouth and drowsiness. Antidepressants may also decrease your desire to have sex. Your healthcare provider can help you decide if an antidepressant is right for you.

Medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction may also help prevent this condition. Your healthcare provider may prescribe one of these medicines alone or in combination with an antidepressant.

In Canada, anesthetic creams are being studied for their effectiveness for preventing premature ejaculation. These creams are applied to the head of the penis to make it less sensitive. Usually, the cream is applied about 30 minutes before sex and then washed off once it has decreased the feeling in your penis. The cream must be washed off before sex. If it is left on, it can cause a loss of erection and vaginal numbness.

For some, simply wearing a condom can help delay ejaculation because it may make the penis slightly less sensitive.

Living with premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is very common. But if it happens frequently, talk to your healthcare provider. There are many techniques you can use that may help prevent it. You should also talk to your partner. Often, they may feel responsible or disconnected. Talking about it can help put both of you more at ease. Also, your partner can help with the strategies described above for controlling your ejaculation.