What causes premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation is a common problem that affects men of all ages. It means that men ejaculate too quickly, often with little (or even no) stimulation and it can lead to frustration, embarrassment and problems within a relationship. But what exactly causes it and can you treat it?

What causes premature ejaculation?

The causes of premature ejaculation are varied and differ from one man to another. Sometimes, the condition is lifelong and other times it’s acquired.

Lifelong premature ejaculation normally begins in puberty and becomes somewhat of a learned habit. A man may finish quickly due to conditioning himself to do so to avoid being caught masturbating when he’s young - which is then difficult to unlearn.

It can also be caused by more serious issues such as a sexual childhood trauma, or seeing sex as a taboo (maybe due to cultural or religious reasons). Because lifelong premature ejaculation can be so ingrained into a man’s mind, treatment can often include counselling or other CBT methods to get to the route of the problem.

However, lifelong premature ejaculation is not nearly as common as acquired premature ejaculation. This means that the condition has developed (somewhere between adolescence and the present) and this can be for a large variety of reasons.

Sometimes a man may notice himself finishing quicker with a new or casual partner, possibly due to performance anxiety. This can then become a recurring problem because the more you worry about finishing too quickly, the more likely it can be. Sometimes, one embarrassing sexual encounter can then trigger the problem.

Even with a long term, established partner, you may suddenly notice premature ejaculation becoming an issue. This may be due to stress, mental health problems, or problems within the relationship itself. 

Occasionally, physical health conditions can also contribute to causing premature ejaculation; conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and MS.

How do I know if I have premature ejaculation?

There’s no rulebook that dictates how long sex should last. Just like with style, speed, position and other elements, the duration is a very personal preference and something for you and your partner to work out together. One couple may regularly enjoy a lengthy session, whereas others may prefer something quicker.

Because there’s no exact time that sex should last for, there’s also no exact definition for premature ejaculation. A study looking at 500 couples from 5 different countries found the average time taken to ejaculate during intercourse was around 5-and-a-half minutes. But if you’re a man who is having sex with a woman who would prefer sex to last 15 minutes, then you may feel like you’re finishing too quickly. It’s all about how the timing is making you and your partner feel.

However, if you’re lasting less than 2 minutes or are ejaculating before entering your partner then it’s likely that you are experiencing premature ejaculation and you may wish to try and do something to lengthen the time taken.

There are a number of ways to tackle premature ejaculation. As mentioned, you may benefit from psychological help to get to the cause of the issue. But there are also topical and oral medications and products that can help.

Reducing sensitivity in the penis can help to increase the time it takes to ejaculate. This could be done by wearing thick condoms or by using a topical product containing lidocaine, such as Emla cream or Stud 100.

A highly effective medicine for premature ejaculation is Priligy, which is a tablet used to give you better control over your ejaculation, and to help you last longer.

At UK Meds, we offer a variety of premature ejaculation treatments and you can buy Priligy, Emla cream and Stud 100 using our online clinic and prescription service.

Medically Reviewed by:
Dr. Alexis Missick MBChB. MRCGP
GMC reference no: 7151419
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