EARLY EJACULATION

EARLY EJACULATION occurs when a man ejaculates sooner during sexual intercourse than he or his partner would like. Premature ejaculation is a common sexual complaint. Estimates vary, but as many as 1 out of 3 men say they experience this problem at some time. As long as it happens infrequently, it’s not cause for concern. However, you might be diagnosed with premature ejaculation if you:

• Always or nearly always ejaculate within one minute of penetration
• Are unable to delay ejaculation during intercourse all or nearly all of the time
• Feel distressed and frustrated, and tend to avoid sexual intimacy as a result

Both psychological and biological factors can play a role in premature ejaculation. Although many men feel embarrassed talking about it, premature ejaculation is a common and treatable condition.

SYMPTOMS OF PREMATURE EJACULATION

The main symptom of premature ejaculation is the inability to delay ejaculation for more than one minute after penetration. However, the problem might occur in all sexual situations, even during masturbation. Premature ejaculation can be classified as:

• Lifelong (primary).Lifelong premature ejaculation occurs all or nearly all of the time beginning with your first sexual encounters.
• Acquired (secondary).Acquired premature ejaculation develops after you’ve had previous sexual experiences without ejaculatory problems.

Many men feel that they have symptoms of premature ejaculation, but the symptoms don’t meet the diagnostic criteria for premature ejaculation. Instead these men might have natural variable premature ejaculation, which includes periods of rapid ejaculation as well as periods of normal ejaculation.

CAUSES OF PREMATURE EJACULATION

The exact cause of premature ejaculation isn’t known. While it was once thought to be only psychological, premature ejaculation involves a complex interaction of psychological and biological factors. Psychological causes Psychological factors that might play a role include:

• Early sexual experiences
• Sexual abuse
• Poor body image
• Depression
• Worrying about premature ejaculation
• Guilty feelings that increase your tendency to rush through sexual encounters

Other factors that can play a role include:

• Erectile dysfunction.Men who are anxious about obtaining or maintaining an erection during sexual intercourse might form a pattern of rushing to ejaculate, which can be difficult to change.
• Many men with premature ejaculation also have problems with anxiety either specifically about sexual performance or related to other issues.
• Relationship problems.If you have had satisfying sexual relationships with other partners in which premature ejaculation happened infrequently or not at all, it’s possible that interpersonal issues between you and your current partner are contributing to the problem.

RISK FACTORS OF PREMATURE EJACULATION

Various factors can increase your risk of premature ejaculation, including:

• Erectile dysfunction.You might be at increased risk of premature ejaculation if you occasionally or consistently have trouble getting or maintaining an erection. Fear of losing your erection might cause you to consciously or unconsciously hurry through sexual encounters.
• Emotional or mental strain in any area of your life can play a role in premature ejaculation, limiting your ability to relax and focus during sexual encounters.