What is Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation?
Premature ejaculation (PE) also known as Early / Rapid ejaculation or premature climax, it is the most common type of male sexual dysfunction that affects about 30-40% of men. During premature ejaculation, a man would ejaculate or release semen very early, sometimes even before starting of the sexual intercourse.
What causes Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation?
Premature Ejaculation (PE) can be due to psychological, chemical, and physical conditions.
Some psychological causes that can lead to Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation include:
- Unresolved issues with your partner or in your relationship
- Stress or anxiety
- Unrealistic expectations about sexual intercourse
- Depression
- Performance anxiety
- Lack of confidence and body image issues
- Past history of sexual repression
Some chemical and physical causes that can lead to Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation include:
- Extra sensitive penis when it comes to stimulation
- Undiagnosed erectile dysfunction
- Reduced levels of chemicals in the brain- dopamine and serotonin
- Imbalances in hormones levels- oxytocin, TSH, LH, prolactin
What are the symptoms and complications of Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation?
Men with PE have no other associated symptoms other than ejaculating sooner than desired. However, PE can lead to other complications like stress related to relationship issues and infertility (if ejaculation does not occur in the vagina).
How is PE diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask you and your partner several questions about your sexual life and health to better understand whether you have PE. They will also ask you to get blood tests done to check hormones levels and will conduct a physical examination of your reproductive organs.
How do you treat Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation?
PE is commonly treated with a combination of counseling with behavioral therapy and medications. It is important to remember that this is a very common disorder seen among men, and you should not be afraid or embarrassed to speak to your doctor if you face this issue. Your doctor would suggest some of the following treatments to help treat your PE:
- Behavioral therapy
- Counselling
- Reduce stress- meditation and yoga
- Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles
- Using “climax-control” condoms- made up of thicker latex and contains numbing agents
- Masturbate 1-2 hours before sexual intercourse to try and delay ejaculation
- Topical numbing creams, sprays, or gels
- Medication
How does Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation cause Infertility?
In Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation the semen is released even before penetration thus making it extremely difficult for the sperm to reach the female egg for fertilization naturally hence reducing the chances of getting pregnant very difficult.
How can a person with Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation become father or have their own child?
The fertility treatment for Premature Ejaculation (PE) or Early / Rapid Ejaculation are;
- SFA (Sperm Function analysis) test – SFA test can be done to analyze the health of the sperm.
- Sperm DNA fragmentation Index test – Sperm DNA test can be done to analyze the sperm DNA damage.
- Advance IUI – The semen sample can be taken & processed in the IVF laboratory & transferred back to female partner.
- IVF/ICSI – The semen sample is collected & best healthy sperm can be selected & manually inserted in the egg (oocyte) to form embryos, these embryos can be transferred back to female partner.