What is Premature Ejaculation?
Rarely is the cause for premature ejaculation a physical or structural one. The most common cause for premature ejaculation is usually found to be anxiety or overstimulation.
The medical definition for premature ejaculation is when a man ejaculates during intercourse sooner than he or his partner wishes him to. The causes are usually emotional or psychological in nature.
Rarely is the cause for premature ejaculation a physical or structural one. The most common cause for premature ejaculation is usually found to be anxiety or overstimulation.
It is unlikely that a physical exam or laboratory test will reveal any abnormalities taht would account for the problem. It is more likely that useful information will be gathered while interviewing the individual or sexual couple. The diagnosis and determination of a cause is usually discovered during a counseltation with the individual or couple.
Once the diagnosis has been determined a treatment plan can be mapped out. The most common treatments contain both practice and relaxation methods.
Some of the methods that may be suggested are the "stop and start" method and the "squeeze" method. Both methods involve sexual stimulation but from that point they differ.
"Stop and start" method:
This method involves using sexual stimulation until the man recognizes that he is about to ejaculate. At this point the stimulation is then stopped for about thirty seconds and then may the stimulation can then be resumed. This stop and start sequence is repeated until ejaculation is desired. Then the final time, the stimulation can continue until ejaculation occurs.
"Squeeze" method:
The first part of this method is the same as the previous one in that sexual stimulation is applied until the man recognizes that he is about to ejaculate. It is at this point where the two techniques differ. At this point, the man or his partner gently is to squeeze the end of the penis (where the glans meets the shaft) for several seconds, and doing so at the same time withholding further sexual stimulation for about 30 seconds, and then he or his partner may resume sexual stimulation. The person or couple may repeat the sequence until ejaculation is desired, with the final time allowing the stimulation to continue until ejaculation occurs.
A doctor may prescribe an antidepressant to help prolong the time it takes to achieve ejaculation. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are also prescribed for the same reason. The doctor may also prescribe anesthetic creams to rub on the penis to decrease stimulation. The decreased feeling in the penis from these creams may prolong the time before ejaculation. Another useful tactic is to use a condom because condoms also have the effect on most men of prolonging ejaculation.
Usually with practice and the above-mentioned tools, most men are able to learn how to control ejaculation and with every successful episode the anxiety lessens which also helps.
If the premature ejaculation episodes continue it may lead to sexual dissatisfaction, sexual tension and trouble for the sexual relationship.
Tools that are the most successful in addressing premature ejaculation are:
· Learning the methods (stop and start, and the squeeze method)
· Practising how to control when ejaculation occurs
· Psychological evaluation and counselling if necessary to address issues of anxiety and or depression
· The use of medications to prolong ejaculation
It is important for a man to see a medical professional if methods such as those described above are not helping or if there are emotional or psychological issues that are making life to be uncomfortable.
There are no known preventative measures to take for premature ejaculation. The best course of action is to recognize early when there is a problem, and to learn the best ways to deal with it.