Does Viagra Help with Premature Ejaculation?

The effects of Viagra® are pretty well-known these days—the average guy understands that if you have erectile dysfunction (ED), the pill can help you get hard. But beyond that general awareness, specific intel about how and why it works, along with whether it’s actually safe to use, can start to waver.

What Viagra does is common knowledge. But whether “the little blue pill” can have other effects on your sex life and general health can get fuzzy if you ask your buddies or the internet. The same is true for the effects of Viagra on premature ejaculation (PE). 

PE is one of the most common types of sexual dysfunction, with 4 to 39 percent of men reporting they’ve dealt with it at some point (although reports are often subjective and estimates vary widely). So, if you’re worried you’re coming too fast, you’re definitely not alone. You’re also definitely not alone if you’re wondering whether Viagra could help you. Scientists have wondered this, too. 

Below, we’ve cleared up the details about what Viagra does, whether Viagra for premature ejaculation works, and what other PE treatments are available.

Let’s get technical about Viagra for a second. 

Sildenafil citrate is the active ingredient in this brand-name drug. Both the generic and brand names belong to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 or PDE5 inhibitors. The medications work by interfering with a type of enzyme, called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). That inhibition leads to a higher concentration of a molecule that relaxes and dilates the blood vessels in your penis, amping up the blood flow to your penis.

That extra blood flow is what makes it easier for you to get an erection.

As for how well sildenafil works? It’s a proven effective treatment for ED. Each clinical study and systematic review, as well as all the PubMed and DOI studies you’ll find doing research alone on a Saturday night, agree that this ED medication does what it’s supposed to do. It’s also FDA approved to treat erectile dysfunction.

Even so, people who don’t understand what it does may get things wrong—like whether Viagra can effectively treat PE. 

Does Viagra make you last longer? The short answer is anecdotally, yes, but scientifically, unclear. Sildenafil citrate was originally developed for heart conditions. It can still treat those, but the drug has since become the face of erectile dysfunction.

As for the effects of Viagra on premature ejaculation, there’s not so much data, and no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for this use. (In fact, no medication is FDA-approved to treat PE).

There are a few studies, though, that have examined the potential effects of sildenafil on premature ejaculation compared to a placebo and other treatments. One such study published in 2007 using just 180 male participants found that those men:

• Experienced improvements in IELT (intravaginal ejaculatory latency time, or time to ejaculation after penetration)

• Increased their sexual satisfaction  

• Experienced a decrease in the severity of their PE 

• Had sex more often

The study concluded that sildenafil is “very effective and safe to treat PE” and may also increase confidence. 

An older clinical trial from 2005 also found that men using sildenafil for PE experienced increased confidence and ejaculatory control, a shorter refractory period (the time required to recover sexually after ejaculating) and improved overall sexual satisfaction. 

However, while they did also see improvement in ejaculatory latency time, the change didn’t mark a statistically significant increase.

According to another study, sildenafil worked well in combination with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine, a type of antidepressant.

So, does Viagra help you last longer? Yes. But why? Well, experts (the sexual medicine healthcare professionals who study this stuff for a living) haven’t really figured out why ED meds help with PE.

Don’t be too hard on them—it’s an extremely complicated system that we don’t fully understand yet. 

Some reasons experts think Viagra might be effective for treating symptoms of PE include:

• Inhibiting the connection between the brain and the urogenital system

• Dilating (opening up) smooth muscles near the vas deferens

• Boosting the confidence of those with sexual performance anxiety

• Affecting the nitric oxide in your body

There are a lot of possibilities, but there’s not one clear answer.

Side Effects of Viagra 

As is the case with nearly every medication, taking Viagra comes with the risk of potential side effects. These are important to consider before using the drug for PE (or any other purpose). 

Common side effects of Viagra include:

• Headaches

• Flushing

• Dizziness

• Upset stomach

• Nasal congestion

While the above side effects can be annoying, rare but more serious side effects are also possible, such as vision or hearing changes, priapism (a prolonged erection), or chest pain. These require immediate medical attention. 

Furthermore, you should consult with a healthcare provider before taking Viagra if you have heart conditions, low blood pressure, or take other medications (like nitrates) that may interact with sildenafil.

Sexual intercourse isn’t really supposed to have a timer on it, but if your intimacy sessions feel stifled by stamina issues related to PE, there are a number of potential interventions that may help. 

Premature ejaculation treatments can take many forms. These may include desensitizing topical creams and sprays, or mental health treatments like therapy and/or prescription medications such as antidepressants that are used off-label to treat PE.

There are also physical exercises that may help you add precious minutes to the sexual intercourse part of your next romantic evening.

Here’s what experts recommend.

Sprays, Creams, and Topical Treatments

Mild or moderate premature ejaculation can sometimes be treated using a topical anesthetic that lowers sensitivity in your penis, like benzocaine or lidocaine.

For example, our Clockstopper Climax Delay Wipes are made using benzocaine to help you control sensitivity without reducing sexual pleasure. There are also delay sprays for PE that use lidocaine.

Medications for PE 

While the FDA has yet to approve antidepressants for delaying ejaculation, a range of existing medications are already prescribed off-label for PE. Examples include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline (generic Zoloft®) and paroxetine (generic Paxil®). 

We offer sertraline and paroxetine for premature ejaculation online, following a consultation with a healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. 

Sex Therapy

Let’s be real: Most of us could benefit from talking to a third party about things happening underneath the surface. This is particularly true when the issue feels too sensitive to broach in the proverbial locker room.

Talking to a sex-positive therapist can be a total game-changer if you’re dealing with PE or other sexual health obstacles. 

If you have performance anxiety, low self-confidence, or relationship issues that are getting in the way of a healthy sex life, consider sex therapy in addition to other treatments, as appropriate.

Other Techniques for Treating PE

For guys wondering how to last longer in bed without medication, learning to control ejaculation can be helpful. Mind over matter, pals.

Techniques for controlling ejaculating include:

• Performing pelvic floor exercises to strengthen muscles

• Using the squeeze technique to delay ejaculation during sex

• Masturbating to take advantage of your refractory time

• Trying thicker condoms to reduce sensitivity 

• Learning relaxation techniques to avoid orgasm

Want to try the home remedies first? Our guide to stopping premature ejaculation goes into more detail about these tactics and how you can use them to improve your stamina and sexual function.

If you’re contending with PE, you may want to start with the non-prescription at-home remedies to treat your symptoms. But if options like the squeeze technique or sprays aren’t working for you, it might be time to try medications. 

If you’re ready to go this route, sildenafil and other medications for erectile dysfunction, like tadalafil (Cialis®), vardenafil (Levitra®), or avanafil (available as Stendra®) may help. SSRIs are another effective off-label option. 

However, it’s important to note that these treatments are prescribed off-label for PE, meaning they haven’t been approved by the FDA for this use. They can also carry a risk of side effects or drug interactions for people who have certain medical conditions or who are taking other medications. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider before taking a new medication.

Remember, there aren’t actually any FDA-approved medications for PE, so here’s what you need to know:

• Research for the use of sildenafil for premature ejaculation is promising, especially when used in combination with those at-home treatments we mentioned. However, more research is needed before any sort of official approval is given.

• It’s unclear exactly what Viagra does in addressing PE. It may help calm you down or boost your confidence, or it may decrease sexual stimulation, among other possibilities.

• Taking Viagra without a prescription or against medical advice—for any reason, both ED and PE included—is dangerous. Always talk to a healthcare provider before taking Viagra.

PE can be a lifelong condition (meaning it has happened since your earliest sexual experiences) or acquired. It can also happen in all sexual activity or only affect you during certain types of sexual activity or with specific partners.

It doesn’t matter when it started. What matters is getting it treated—safely and soon.