Premature ejaculation: how to last longer

It’s in the name, but premature ejaculation (not to be confused with delayed or retrograde ejaculation) simply refers to when someone with a penis cums faster than desired during sex. Definitions of premature ejaculation differ depending on who you speak to, but international guidelines define PE as regularly ejaculating within one minute of beginning penetrative sex.

There are two different types of premature ejaculation:

1. The ‘primary’ form - where you’ve always prematurely ejaculated

2. The ‘secondary’ or ‘acquired’ form - where the problem has developed more recently

What causes it

The causes of primary premature ejaculation are often psychological, such as suffering from anxiety, depression, sexual trauma, or other emotional distress, even relationship issues and anxiety about sexual performance can cause premature ejaculation. In this case, seeking emotional or psychotherapeutic help may be the way forward. Mental ill-health hugely affects sex life, and causes blocks that seem more physical than they are psychological, but getting to the root of trauma and unhappiness may be just as useful as a physical check-up.

Secondary premature ejaculation can have both physical and psychological causes. Most common among the physical causes are problems with the prostate, either an over or underactive thyroid, or the abuse of recreational drugs. 

Can it be solved with medication?

The medicine that you’re most likely to have heard of is viagra, which can be both bought and prescribed. It’s usually used to combat erectile dysfunction, but there are studies suggesting that it can be effective in treating PE, too. 

Otherwise, there are a variety of medicinal treatments for premature ejaculation, the most common being SSRIs. Short for ‘selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors’, they are a type of antidepressant that are also prescribed to treat PE. You might have heard of sertraline or prozac, which are two of the types of antidepressant used. The drugs usually start to take effect 2 or 3 weeks into treatment.

Dapoxetine is an SSRI that has been designed specifically to work against premature ejaculation. It works quicker than other SSRIs, but can cause health issues in men with preexisting heart, kidney, and liver problems. 

Topical anaesthetics take the form of a cream which reduces sensitivity wherever it is applied. The idea is that it can be applied to the penis, but the problem is that it can be transferred into and absorbed by the vagina. 

On the whole, though, there are effective and readily available medicinal treatments for premature ejaculation. 

Are there natural remedies?

If you don’t want to opt for medicine just yet, or if you don’t think you suffer from premature ejaculation, but  just want to last a bit longer. There are some at-home DIY remedies you can try.

Using condoms makes the whole experience less sensitive and may work to help you last a bit longer. There are even desensitising condoms which are made for that reason. It does seem a bit sad to reduce the sensation if you don’t have to, so this might not tickle your fancy. In which case you can try:

Pelvic floor exercises, such as kegel exercises, which will strengthen your muscles and can in some cases more than double the time it takes you to ejaculate.

Changing up the pace, rhythm, and sex position. This keeps things fresh, too.

Masturbating a couple of hours before sex.

Edging. Slowing down or stopping completely just when you’re about to cum, then repeating the process. And this makes the orgasm much more intense when it does happen.

Regular yoga (apparently). There is some evidence to suggest that keeping mindful and meditative with yogi techniques can regulate your hormones in a way that helps you last longer. It can’t hurt…

The takeaway

There will always be an identifiable and treatable cause behind either primary or secondary premature ejaculation - and there are ways to train your body to last longer. Premature ejaculation and difficulty lasting are normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Getting more familiar with your body is the first step to improving and enriching sex for you and your sexual partner(s).