The Facts
What's premature ejaculation (PE)?
PE is more than just feeling like you want to last a little longer in bed. Sexual health experts agree PE is a medical condition that can affect any man and is defined by the three key features.
- a short time between penetration and ejaculation (or ejaculation before penetration)
- feeling unable to control ejaculation
- unhappiness or difficulties caused by PE
PE can take two forms. Men can have PE from the first time they have sex (lifelong PE), or develop PE later in life, even after many years without any problems (acquired PE).
A Treatable Medical Condition
Many men carry on with their lives hoping that their PE will get better with time. The important thing to remember is that PE is a treatable medical condition, and that by speaking to your doctor, you can access a number of effective treatments.
Ejaculation
The release of sperm and seminal fluid from the penis during sexual intercourse. Often known as ‘coming’ or ‘cumming’
What's the normal time to ejaculation?
It is important to note about PE that there’s no such thing as a normal ejaculation time, mainly because it varies so much between men and even varies for the same man with different partners or situations. Some men wish they could last longer in bed, even though they don’t have PE.
Is there any difference between normal ejaculation and PE?
In men with PE, the mechanism of ejaculation is the same as in men without PE, but it happens much more quickly and with less feeling of control, but other than that, it’s exactly the same as normal ejaculation.
Normal ejaculation is a reflex action controlled by the brain and the nervous system. Men with PE have compared their inability to control ejaculation to a sneeze. Think about sneezing as another reflex and how hard it is to control that. In some ways, PE is the same – men can feel that it’s about to happen but they can’t do anything to stop it.
This is because, like a sneeze, ejaculation is a reflex action that is controlled by the brain and nervous system. Once triggered, it can’t be stopped. Ejaculation can be triggered by mental as well as physical sexual stimulation.
