How is premature ejaculation treated?
There are a variety of different ways to treat premature ejaculation. These can range from medication and therapy to strategies you can try at home before getting advice from a doctor.
Your doctor will ask you questions about your health and diagnose you before deciding on how to treat you. They will make sure your treatment is safe and suitable for you.
Treating premature ejaculation with medication
One of the fastest and most effective ways of treating premature ejaculation is with medication.
Premature ejaculation tablets
There are tablets available that can treat premature ejaculation. We provide Priligy, which you take 1 to 3 hours before having sex that makes you less likely to ejaculate early. It contains dapoxetine, an antidepressant that’s specifically designed to treat premature ejaculation. Up to 80% of men taking Priligy for premature ejaculation reported “fair satisfaction” with sexual intercourse in one study.
It’s a prescription-only medication, so you will need a diagnosis and prescription from a doctor before you take it to make sure it’s safe for you.
Antidepressants
While this type of medication is usually used to treat mental health conditions, it can also be used to delay ejaculation. Some people find this medication starts working quickly for them, although it can take up to 1 to 2 weeks before you notice the full effects.
Erectile dysfunction medication
Erectile dysfunction is where a man struggles to get or maintain an erection that’s hard enough for sex. There are treatments available for erectile dysfunction, like Viagra and sildenafil. However, research suggests that these can be used to treat premature ejaculation too. You should speak to your doctor before taking this type of medication for this reason.
Treating premature ejaculation with cream
There are creams and topical solutions that can reduce sensation in your penis so you can have sex for longer without ejaculating, like EMLA cream. You can buy these over the counter at pharmacies or through Superdrug Online Doctor.
Treating premature ejaculation at home
There are things you can try at home to help treat premature ejaculation.
These include:
- masturbating an hour or two before sex
- using a thicker condom to reduce the sensation in your penis
- taking a deep breath while having sex, to briefly stop your ejaculatory reflex
- changing sex positions or taking a break in the middle of sex
- the pause and squeeze technique during sex, where your partner gently squeezes the end of your penis for several seconds when you feel like you’re about to ejaculate until this feeling passes
- the stop-start technique during sex, where you stop when you feel like you’re about to ejaculate and continue once this feeling passes
- kegel exercises, which can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to help delay ejaculation, though you should check this is safe for you and that you’re doing it correctly
- changing your diet, which can have a positive effect on your sexual health and wellbeing, although there’s no firm link between certain diets and premature ejaculation
Treating premature ejaculation with therapy and counselling
As psychological factors can affect and cause premature ejaculation, your doctor may recommend seeing a therapist or attending couples therapy if you’re in a long term relationship.
A therapist can give you space to talk about any issues you have. These may be either your own or within your relationship. They can then give you advice to help you resolve these. A therapist may also teach you techniques to help control the condition within your relationship.
Can premature ejaculation be cured?
There is no permanent cure for premature ejaculation. However, with the right support and advice, you may find medication, techniques and resources that will help you keep the condition under control, so you can continue to lead a full and satisfying sex life.