Premature Ejaculation Treatment: From Diagnosis to Healing
As a Preamble
Premature Ejaculation or PE has become widely spread among men. Although it is not acceptable to speak about it out loud, and couples or men themselves tend to keep it a secret, doctors have already started speaking out to note that almost 21 – 31% of men in Australia are being diagnosed with this condition. This implies that speaking about PE has become necessary: moreover, it is significant to know your body well and make sure to do everything to be happy in your personal life. Among other factors, this includes being mutually sexually satisfied from your relationship with your partner. This article is meant to guide you through the origin and development of this condition and help consider necessary treatment options.
What’s the Problem?
Premature Ejaculation or PE occurs when men ejaculate (come) sooner and more quickly than they would like without having proper self-control over the process. Men may ejaculate right before or during sexual intercourse. While studies show that men ejaculate within 10 – 15 minutes of entering their partner, men with premature ejaculation regularly ejaculate within 1 – 2 minutes of the sexual foreplay. This may adversely affect the rapport between partners, usually leading men to develop distress, anxiety, less self-esteem, and reduced libido, which spoil the relationship. This condition can affect any man, irrespective of his age, ethnicity, marital status. However, certain psychological and physical conditions should be taken into consideration.
Nevertheless, partners should consider PE to be a problem only when one of them or both feel that the condition interferes with their sexual satisfaction. This requires honesty and openness in the relationship to share concerns and speak up. Partners are welcome to discuss together the outcomes of their sexual intercourse and understand whether those make them happy or not.
Types and Symptoms
According to the premature ejaculation doctors, PE can be present in two variations:
- Lifelong (primary) – the problem has always been present, and men felt that earlier, usually during the first sexual intercourses already
- Acquired (secondary) – men have developed this condition recently, during their lifetime
While lifelong PE can be caused by mainly psychological factors, for example, traumatic sexual experience when very young, the acquired PE can be the combination of both psychological and physical factors. Drinking alcohol, having an inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis) or spinal cord problems, experiencing issues with the nervous system belong to the aforementioned physical factors. When it comes to psychological factors, the list includes distress, pressure, anxiety, traumatic memories of sexual experience that force men avoid intimacy.
Symptoms usually include:
- Regularly ejaculating with little sexual stimulation
- Losing control over the process, or having little control
- Decreased sexual pleasure
- Feelings of guilt, discomfort, or anger
Doctors diagnose PE based on these typical syndromes and not only. However, they always need the help of the patient, who has to be honest about his sexual history. The more they know, the better the care will be. Also, be informed that your sexual history might not disclose any episodes that could have caused PE. In this case, doctors usually examine the patient’s body, reproductive organs and carry out neurological tests for potential physical issues.
How to Treat PE?
The treatment of PE has acquired various forms and options depending on the combination of the causes. Premature ejaculation doctors prescribe certain types of medicine or psychological help based on the severity of the condition as well. Behavioral therapy has come in handy in such cases very often and succeeded in providing the patient with the opportunity to acquire new ejaculative behavioral habits. There have been special techniques taught to patients which help them delay the discharge of semen and regain control over the process over time.
On the other hand, drugs that help delay orgasm can be prescribed. They usually achieve a result similar to that of drugs used to treat depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been applied with success in these cases and shown to prolong sexual intercourse and postpone orgasm for several minutes. Men may also benefit from using another type of drug called phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and the famous sildenafil (Viagra) belongs to this list. Finally, several creams that help reduce the sensitivity of the penis and lower the levels of stimulation can positively influence the prolongation of sexual foreplay.
Concluding Remarks
Experiencing premature ejaculation is normal: not only can this condition affect any man, but also can happen at any time in a man’s life. The important thing here is to understand that it is not a shame to discuss this issue with your partner if you are worried about it and apply for professional care. Doctors will safely diagnose the issue, understand its severity and prescribe you the treatment (not always medicative) that can lead you to restore your happiness and self-esteem in your life and your relationships.
