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You’re far from alone if you’re wondering “Is premature ejaculation permanent?” or hoping to figure out “how to cure PE permanently.” And we do mean far: Premature ejaculation (PE) affects approximately 30 percent of men worldwide.
While premature ejaculation can be frustrating and even stressful, the good news is that it’s almost always treatable — just not curable.
Below, we’ve explained what exactly premature ejaculation is, the symptoms you may notice if you’re affected by PE, and treatments that can help you enjoy better sex.
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Premature ejaculation is a sexual dysfunction that involves ejaculating, or coming, earlier than you or your partner would like during sexual activity. It can happen during penetrative sex, oral sex, or other forms of sexual contact.
Like erectile dysfunction (ED) and other male sexual issues, PE is common. In fact, it’s considered the most common sexual disorder that affects men.
Precise definitions of premature ejaculation vary, but here’s the gold standard according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5): ejaculation that occurs within one minute following vaginal penetration, before the individual wishes, during all or almost all sexual activity.
To qualify as PE, this issue needs to persist for at least six months, cause distress, and not have a clear nonsexual explanation, such as a mental disorder, medical condition, or medication that’s associated with changes in sexual function.
The most significant symptom of lifelong premature ejaculation is a shorter average ejaculation time than you and/or your partner would like. This may cause other symptoms, including some that could affect your self-confidence, mental health, and the well-being of your sexual relationship and connection with your partner.
If you have premature ejaculation, you may experience the following symptoms:
Short time to ejaculation. Formally known as a short intravaginal ejaculatory latency time, or IELT, this refers to the total amount of time that passes following penetration before ejaculation. If you almost always reach orgasm and ejaculate within one minute of penetration, you may be affected by PE.
Little or no control over ejaculation. If you have PE, you might feel like it’s difficult or impossible to prevent yourself from ejaculating for long enough to satisfy your partner.
Less pleasurable sex. Premature ejaculation can potentially make sex less pleasurable for you and/or your partner, both by preventing you from enjoying the sensation of sex and by making it harder to relax during sexual contact.
Psychological distress. Because of its effects on sexual intimacy and pleasure, PE can have a psychological impact on you and/or your partner. This can cause issues such as sexual frustration, reduced sexual satisfaction, and performance anxiety.
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- Bill, 38
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Experts aren’t aware of precisely what causes premature ejaculation, but most research suggests that a combination of biological and psychological risk factors could all play a role.
These potential causes of premature ejaculation include:
Abnormal hormone levels. This includes changes in levels of prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Low levels of serotonin. This neurotransmitter is involved in regulating moods and feelings, and possibly delaying ejaculation.
Infections. Infections and/or inflammation that affect the prostate or urethra may contribute to PE.
Mental health issues. These include depression, feelings of guilt, poor body image, a history of sexual abuse, and sexual performance anxiety.
Relationship issues. Problems in your current relationship that affect intimacy or sexual desire may contribute to PE.
Because premature ejaculation can vary in origin, onset, and severity, treatment can take multiple forms and result in different outcomes. A person with mild PE caused by an underlying condition could make their PE symptoms go away by treating that underlying condition. More severe PE rooted in psychological factors may take more time and energy to manage.
Like other forms of sexual dysfunction, PE can also vary in duration. For some men, premature ejaculation begins to develop at a certain period in life. This is referred to as “acquired PE.” Premature ejaculation is viewed as “lifelong” when it’s affected someone since their first sexual experience.
In some cases, it’s relatively mild and allows at least some time for sexual contact. In others, it can be so severe that the affected person may reach orgasm and ejaculate before any sexual activity takes place.
Premature ejaculation can also be generalized or situational. Some men may ejaculate prematurely in all sexual situations with all sexual partners. For others, it may be limited to certain situations, partners, or types of sexual stimulation.
Even though there isn’t exactly a single permanent cure for PE, identifying what kind of premature ejaculation you have — and what could be causing it — can help you find an effective treatment option.
So you’ve got your answer to “Is premature ejaculation curable?” Sometimes, PE goes away on its own, and sometimes it doesn’t. But there are a variety of options for the treatment of premature ejaculation — including lifelong PE.
Treatments for premature ejaculation include over-the-counter products, prescription medications, behavioral techniques, and therapy that addresses the psychological causes of PE, like relationship issues or anxiety about sexual performance.
Topical products that lower the sensitivity level of your penis can treat premature ejaculation, helping you to last longer without missing out on the sensation of sex.
Most topical products for PE contain anesthetic ingredients that reduce sensitivity without overly numbing your penis. Our Clockstopper Climax Delay Wipes — which use benzocaine for fast-acting relief from PE — is no exception.
Research shows that when applied shortly before sex, these ingredients can help to slow down ejaculation and increase sexual stamina.
For example, a study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research found that a spray containing lidocaine significantly improved intravaginal ejaculation latency time (reminder: that’s the time after penetration before ejaculation) in men with lifelong PE.
Similar research has found that benzocaine wipes produce a significant increase in ejaculatory latency time for men with PE.
Our guide to how lidocaine spray works for premature ejaculation goes into greater detail about using topical products to treat PE.
Currently, there’s no FDA-approved prescription medication specifically for treating premature ejaculation. However, several antidepressants are commonly prescribed off-label as treatments for PE, including paroxetine, fluoxetine, and sertraline (the active ingredient in Zoloft®).
Sertraline belongs to a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by increasing serotonin levels, which can reduce the severity of depression symptoms.
In addition to potentially causing depression, low levels of serotonin are associated with rapid ejaculation. Experts think that a sertraline-induced increase in serotonin levels inhibits orgasm and ejaculation, treating PE and improving sexual stamina.
Research largely backs this up. One systematic review and meta-analysis from 2019 found that sertraline helps to prolong intravaginal ejaculation latency time and improve sexual satisfaction for partners.
Other research suggests that some treatments for erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra®), may help to delay ejaculation.
In fact, several studies have found that sildenafil appears to increase the time to ejaculation, improve sexual satisfaction, and increase self-confidence and frequency of sex in men affected by premature ejaculation.
We offer generic sildenafil for PE online as part of our range of evidence-based premature ejaculation treatments.
Other ED medications that may help include tadalafil (Cialis®), avanafil (Stendra), or chewable ED meds like Hims Hard Mints. But you should always ask your urologist before using ED medications for PE.
You may be able to stop PE immediately using simple behavioral techniques that help delay orgasm and ejaculation. These include the stop-start method and the squeeze technique.
Here’s how they work:
The stop-start method. This method involves stopping sexual activity before you feel you’re about to reach orgasm, waiting for the level of sexual arousal to decrease, and then starting again once you feel more relaxed.
The squeeze technique. This technique involves either you or your partner squeezing your penis at the point where the glans (the head of your penis) meets the shaft when you feel you’re approaching orgasm and ejaculation. Like the stop-start method, this stimulation can act as a reset before you continue sexual activity.
You can repeat these techniques several times during sex to delay orgasm and improve your sexual stamina. You can also try mixing up sexual positions and activities.
But keep in mind: Research on the effects of behavioral techniques for PE is mixed. A 2015 systematic review found that some studies of these techniques show large improvements in ejaculation latency while others show little or no changes.
In other words, your experience may vary. However, since these techniques are easy to do and cost nothing, they might be worth trying — either on their own or in combination with medical treatments for PE.
Masturbation isn’t often considered a treatment for sexual problems, but it could help with premature ejaculation.
Plenty of research has shown that masturbating before sex can address the physiological issues associated with PE by temporarily reducing sensitivity and relieving some of the excitement you may feel leading up to an intimate engagement.
Like the other physical techniques mentioned above, masturbating before sex offers a practical and potentially immediate improvement to ejaculation problems.
Vitamin deficiencies are rare, but if you do have one, it may affect your sex life.
While there is not enough comprehensive research to conclude that any supplement or vitamin can improve premature ejaculation, it may be worth getting a full blood panel to see if you have any nutritional deficiencies.
Supplements for PE often include vitamins and minerals like Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, zinc, biotin, and folic acid. Many of these nutrients can also be obtained from food, so doctors recommend eating a well-balanced diet to support sexual and overall health.
Often associated with women, pelvic floor exercises (also known as kegel exercises) can help men strengthen the muscles sometimes associated with sexual problems and poor erectile control during sexual intercourse.
Your pelvic floor muscles control ejaculation and urination (among other things), and they can weaken without regular exercise as we age.
While they aren’t all that difficult, people often perform kegel exercise improperly — check out our guide to make sure you get it right.
When early ejaculation is caused by a psychological issue such as depression, anxiety, or relationship problems, psychotherapy often helps.
Also referred to as talk therapy (or sex therapy if it’s with a specialized sex therapist), psychotherapy involves talking with a mental health provider to identify and change problematic emotions, thoughts, and patterns of behavior. As a treatment for PE, this may involve changing negative thoughts and behaviors related to sex.
Research largely suggests that a combination of pharmacotherapy (treatment with medication) and behavioral treatment is the most effective option for treating PE. So your healthcare provider might prescribe you medication in combination with therapy and other techniques.
Premature ejaculation can take a major toll on your sex life, especially if it’s something you’ve struggled with since your first sexual experience. While you can’t learn how to cure PE permanently, you can learn how to control the issue. Remember:
Premature ejaculation is a common sexual dysfunction with various causes. Contributing factors to ED include abnormal hormone levels, low levels of serotonin, mental health issues, infections, and relationship problems.
There are many home remedies and over-the-counter treatments for PE. Behavioral techniques include the stop-start method and the squeeze technique. For more control, you can also try desensitizing sprays, wipes, or condoms.
Some men with PE control their symptoms with prescription medication. Whether lifelong or acquired, PE may improve with medication like antidepressants or ED drugs that help foster longer-lasting, more pleasurable sex.
If you’re one of the tens of millions of men affected by PE, you can access a range of premature ejaculation treatments, including over-the-counter products and prescription PE medications, following an online consultation with a licensed healthcare professional.
You can also learn more about addressing PE and improving your sexual performance in our guide to lasting longer in bed.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
Dr. Kelly Brown is a board certified Urologist and fellowship trained in Andrology. She is an accomplished men’s health expert with a robust background in healthcare innovation, clinical medicine, and academic research. Dr. Brown was previously Medical Director of a male fertility startup where she lead strategy and design of their digital health platform, an innovative education and telehealth model for delivering expert male fertility care.
She completed her undergraduate studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Heels!) with a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science and a Minor in Chemistry. She took a position at University of California Los Angeles as a radiologic technologist in the department of Interventional Cardiology, further solidifying her passion for medicine. She also pursued the unique opportunity to lead departmental design and operational development at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, sparking her passion for the business of healthcare.
Dr. Brown then went on to obtain her doctorate in medicine from the prestigious Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine and Masters in Business Administration from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, with a concentration in Healthcare Management. During her surgical residency in Urology at University of California San Francisco, she utilized her research year to focus on innovations in telemedicine and then served as chief resident with significant contributions to clinical quality improvement. Dr. Brown then completed her Andrology Fellowship at Medical College of Wisconsin, furthering her expertise in male fertility, microsurgery, and sexual function.
Her dedication to caring for patients with compassion, understanding, as well as a unique ability to make guys instantly comfortable discussing anything from sex to sperm makes her a renowned clinician. In addition, her passion for innovation in healthcare combined with her business acumen makes her a formidable leader in the field of men’s health.
Dr. Brown is an avid adventurer; summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (twice!) and hiking the incredible Torres del Paine Trek in Patagonia, Chile. She deeply appreciates new challenges and diverse cultures on her travels. She lives in Denver with her husband, two children, and beloved Bernese Mountain Dog. You can find Dr. Brown on LinkedIn for more information.
Education & Training
Andrology Fellowship, Medical College of Wisconsin
Urology Residency, University of California San Francisco
M.D. Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineB.S. in Radiologic Science, Chemistry Minor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Published as Kelly Walker
Cowan, B, Walker, K., Rodgers, K., Agyemang, J. (2023). Hormonal Management Improves Semen Analysis Parameters in Men with Abnormal Concentration, Motility, and/or Morphology. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 118, Issue 5, e4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/fertility-and-sterility/vol/120/issue/1/suppl/S
Walker, K., Gogoj, A., Honig, S., Sandlow, J. (2021). What’s New in Male Contraception? AUA Update Series, Volume 40. https://auau.auanet.org/content/update-series-2021-lesson-27-what%E2%80%99s-new-male-contraception
Walker, K., Shindel, A. (2019). AUA Erectile Dysfunction Guideline. AUA Update Series, Volume 38. https://auau.auanet.org/content/course-307
Walker, K., Ramstein, J., & Smith, J. (2019). Regret Regarding Fertility Preservation Decisions Among Male Cancer Patients. The Journal of Urology, 201(Supplement 4), e680-e681. https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/01.JU.0000556300.18991.8e
Walker, K., & Smith, J. (2019). Feasibility Study of Video Telehealth Clinic Visits in Urology. The Journal of Urology, 201(Supplement 4), e545-e545. https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/01.JU.0000556071.60611.37