Premature Ejaculation Help: Causes, Misconceptions and Treatments

Premature ejaculation is a condition where a man ejaculates sooner than he or his partner may have anticipated during sexual activity. It is medically diagnosed if ejaculation occurs within 1 to 3 minutes of intercourse^[1][2] and can be prevented through the use of clinically proven premature ejaculation treatments.

This guide explores the scientific mechanisms that underpin the causes of and treatments for premature ejaculation, to debunk common misconceptions about the condition and empower affected individuals to make informed decisions based on accurate and reliable information from scientific studies and reputable medical sources.

What factors can cause premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation can be caused by various physical, psychological, or lifestyle-related factors, with a combination of several factors commonly contributing to the condition.

These factors are typically interrelated; for example, the psychological factors that can cause premature ejaculation, such as anxiety regarding sexual performance, may trigger physical symptoms such as heart issues affecting blood circulation. This mays ubsequently increase the risk of experiencing PE.

Recommended reading: How to Stop Premature Ejaculation - The Definitive Guide

Physical causes of premature ejaculation

The physical causes of premature ejaculation pertain to issues affecting blood circulation, heart health, and the balance of hormones in the body. They include:

• High blood pressure (hypertension) - High blood pressure can potentially damage blood vessels and harden arteries in the body^[3], reducing blood flow to the genital area which may contribute to premature ejaculation.
• Diabetes - Elevated blood sugar levels resulting from uncontrolled diabetes can result in diabetic neuropathy, a condition where nerve fibres become damaged or degenerate due to prolonged high glucose levels. This may affect the nerves that control sexual function and can be linked to an increased risk of experiencing premature ejaculation^[4].
• Hyperthyroidism - Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) can affect the body’s metabolic processes, heightening sensitivity and impairing ejaculatory reflexes that help control ejaculation timing^[5].

Psychological causes of premature ejaculation

• Stress - Stress triggers the production of certain hormones such as cortisol which can affect sexual processes. Elevated cortisol levels in the blood can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters involved in sexual arousal and ejaculatory control, such as serotonin, impairing sexual function^[6].
• Performance anxiety - Anxiety regarding an individual’s sexual performance (known as performance anxiety) can increase activity in the sympathetic nervous system, causing the affected individual to experience heightened arousal in the very early stages of sexual activity^[7]. Performance anxiety may also cause the affected individual to become overly conscious of the physical sensations of sex, increasing the probability of ejaculating prematurely.
• Depression - Imbalances in the brain’s levels of certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, are linked to feelings of depression and may amplify performance anxiety, contributing to an increase in the risk of ejaculating prematurely.

Lifestyle-related factors that can cause premature ejaculation

• Recreational drug usage - Recreational drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis can alter the brain’s levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin which are involved in arousal and ejaculatory regulation^[8]. Therefore, the use of recreational drugs can affect how an individual feels aroused and how long it takes for them to ejaculate.
• Excessive alcohol intake - Alcohol has been found to impair the brain’s ability to regulate sexual arousal and affect the body’s balance of serotonin and dopamine, increasing the risk of experiencing premature ejaculation.

Which premature ejaculation treatments can help manage the condition?

Premature ejaculation pills

Priligy is one of the most effective and popular oral premature ejaculation treatments. The active ingredient in Priligy, dapoxetine, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) which works by increasing the availability of serotonin in the body.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that passes messages within the nervous system. If taken 1-3 hours before intercourse, Priligy prevents the reuptake of serotonin, delaying the time for serotonin to transmit the message of ejaculation to the relevant areas of the brain, slowing down the process and therefore preventing early climax.

Recommended reading: How Does Priligy Work?

Premature ejaculation spray

STUD 100 is a desensitising spray used to treat early climax. It contains the active ingredient lidocaine, which is a local anaesthetic. Lidocaine blocks sodium channels on nerve endings, preventing the initiation and transmission of nerve impulses, resulting in reduced sensation and delayed ejaculation. This results in better control over the ejaculatory reflex, prolonging sexual activity.

Common misconceptions about premature ejaculation

"Viagra can help treat premature ejaculation"

Viagra does not help treat premature ejaculation as it is formulated to increase blood flow to the penis as opposed to delaying the ejaculatory reflex. Therefore, while Viagra may improve erectile function, it does not directly influence the timing of ejaculation.

"Viagra can be taken with Priligy to treat premature ejaculation"

Taking Priligy with erectile dysfunction medications such as Viagra can result in a dangerous drop in blood pressure, causing fainting and dizziness.

"Alcohol can help reduce the risk of experiencing premature ejaculation"

According to research, alcohol increases the probability of ejaculating prematurely, as opposed to preventing the condition. Individuals who experience premature ejaculation are recommended to drink alcohol moderately, especially if they are taking Priligy as this can slow down reactions and cause the individual to faint or become dizzy.

"Certain foods can help prevent premature ejaculation"

There is no current scientific evidence to suggest a direct causal link between nutritional changes and the probability of experiencing premature ejaculation.

With that said, some foods may contribute to an increased risk of experiencing premature ejaculation due to their effects on the body’s metabolism and hormonal balance.

For instance, excessive sugar consumption can lead to metabolic imbalances that cause reduced testosterone levels and increased oestrogen levels, triggering changes in sex drive that affect a man’s ejaculatory control.

"Hypnosis can help with premature ejaculation"

There is some evidence to suggest that guided hypnosis sessions can help individuals treat anxiety and trauma^[10]. As such, hypnosis may help reduce activity in the sympathetic nervous system and delay the ejaculatory reflex in individuals who experience premature ejaculation, but the link is weak and insufficiently supported by studies.

Individuals experiencing premature ejaculation are therefore advised to consult a pharmacist or GP about clinically proven treatment options such as Priligy instead of resorting to hypnosis to treat premature ejaculation.

"Natural premature ejaculation treatments are effective"

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that natural premature ejaculation treatments, such as supplements and herbs, can help delay ejaculation. It is strongly recommended to avoid such treatments as they lack clinical testing and may be harmful.

Recommended reading: 5 Common Premature Ejaculation Myths, Debunked

What is the best premature ejaculation treatment?

According to research, 88% of the male participants in a study on premature ejaculation reported Priligy 30 mg to be an effective premature ejaculation treatment^[9]. Moreover, another study found that lidocaine, the active ingredient in STUD 100 spray, is more effective at treating premature ejaculation than alternative topical PE treatments.

It is important to note that the best treatment for premature ejaculation depends on individual responses to treatment and which of the main factors that cause this condition apply to the individual in question..

It is also crucial to carefully adhere to the instructions in the patient information leaflets for the abovementioned treatments regarding dosage and frequency of usage. This can help individuals avoid developing a tolerance to certain treatments such as dapoxetine, which may reduce its effectiveness.

Recommended reading: How to Last Longer in Bed - Treatments and Techniques

Summary

Managing the various physical, psychological and lifestyle factors that can cause premature ejaculation requires a thorough understanding of the condition and the use of clinically proven premature ejaculation treatments, such as those available at Pharmica.

We offer fast and discreet UK-wide delivery on all premature ejaculation treatments and have earned a 4.9/5 rating from more than 196,000 reviews for the quality of our treatments and service.

Complete our free online consultation now to get started on ordering premature ejaculation treatments.