Premature ejaculation is a topic that men experience but are reluctant to discuss. It's highly probable that we all have a friend suffering from this issue. If you say "I don't," you might not know your friend as well as you think.
The reason you started reading this article is probably because you want to help your "friend" who is bothered by this, right? How do we know? We are writing this to reassure a "friend" of ours whose code name is Lorenzo Von Matterhorn.
Premature ejaculation affects Lorenzo's relationships with his partners, his self-confidence in his body, and his general psychological state – in short, his life. So, what is our friend experiencing? What is its diagnosis? Are there physical causes? And what exactly is "premature"? We wanted to address this topic so that those who don't know can learn, and those who do can refresh their knowledge, enabling us to provide full support to many more Lorenzos. If you're ready, let's begin.
What is Premature Ejaculation?
Premature ejaculation, or its medical term, premature ejaculation, is a type of sexual dysfunction. It entered medical literature in the 19th century when medical science began to advance, but it only attracted the attention of modern medicine 200 years later. So, we can say that it took a long time to understand what this disorder, which is seen in one out of every three men today, actually is. William Master and Virginia Johnson, famous for their work on sexual disorders, made the first definitions on this topic, which they researched in the 1970s. Let's finish our medical magazine bulletin and move on to the definitions.
Before we begin, let's note that the definitions of premature ejaculation were not limited to what the duo provided. Therefore, saying "If you experience these, you definitely have it" is not very logical. We will present all the definitions to you, and you can tell your friend which one applies to them.
The duo's definition is "The inability of a man to delay his orgasm until his partner achieves orgasm, and this situation is observed in 50% of sexual relations." However, the descriptions used today are slightly different. They are as follows:
"Ejaculation occurring approximately 1 minute after vaginal penetration, always or in most relationships."
"Inability to control ejaculation sufficiently for both partners to enjoy sexual interaction."
The last option is more commonly used nowadays, let's also mention that.
Types and Causes of Premature Ejaculation
No, there's no mistake in the heading. Yes, there are types of premature ejaculation. Four of them, in fact. Let's talk about them without further ado.
Types of Premature Ejaculation
Lifelong Premature Ejaculation: In this type, premature ejaculation begins with the introduction of sexuality into life and continues throughout life unless treated. In Turkey, this type has been detected in 2.5% of men.
Acquired Premature Ejaculation: This type of premature ejaculation occurs due to a subsequent physical or psychological change in the person. It is observed in 3.9% to 4.8% of men worldwide and 4% in Turkey.
Variable Premature Ejaculation: A type where the person experiences normal ejaculation in some situations and premature ejaculation in others. It is the most common type. It is observed in 8% of men in Turkey.
Subjective Premature Ejaculation: This is a premature ejaculation condition caused by cultural or psychological reasons. Its observed rate in our country is 5%.
With a simple calculation, you can understand how many men, even in our country alone, experience premature ejaculation. Moreover, considering that some men believe that talking about sexual problems will harm their masculinity and do not seek help, there are many more Lorenzos among us. It's hard to estimate.
Causes of Premature Ejaculation
It is not precisely known what causes premature ejaculation. In other words, there is no single cause that can be filmed and said, "Here it is." Sometimes it can arise as a result of a single negative factor, and sometimes multiple. However, experts divide the possible causes into psychological and physiological.
Psychological Causes
- Depression
- Feelings of inadequacy
- Anxiety
- Childhood sexual traumas
- Negative perception of one's own body
- Sexual inexperience
- Family and cultural pressure
- Psychological conditioning
- Stress
Physiological Causes
- Diabetes
- Testosterone (we said too little is harmful, too much is harmful) or thyroid hormone deficiency
- Prostate disorders
- Penile hypersensitivity
- Overstimulation of neurons in the brain that trigger ejaculation
- Multiple sclerosis
As you can see, premature ejaculation is a more complex problem than it appears, both in terms of diagnosis and finding its causes. It's not something that can be dismissed by saying, "Come on, don't exaggerate, it's nothing." Therefore, the first thing you should do for your "friend's" psychological and physical health is to direct him to a doctor.
Is There a Treatment? If so, What is it?
Fortunately, modern medicine has advanced, and almost everything now has a remedy. Premature ejaculation is one of them. So, once the underlying causes of the problem are found, a solution can be found for your friend's ailment. However, it's important to remember that finding the right treatment can take a long time.
Medication is one of the most commonly used treatment methods. Medications that your friend can take a few hours before special moments with their partner can help prevent this problem. However, these medications can have side effects, so they should definitely be used after consulting a specialist.
Anesthetic creams and gels that can be used by our friends diagnosed with penile hypersensitivity are also among the most effective methods. These products can prevent excessive penile stimulation and, consequently, premature ejaculation by causing a loss of sensation. Similarly, thicker condoms can also be used to reduce sensitivity.
Another method that can treat the physiological causes of premature ejaculation is exercise and sports. Engaging in sports helps a person regain self-confidence and respect for their body, indirectly helping to overcome the stress experienced during sexual intercourse. You can also suggest that your friend perform Kegel exercises, which will teach them to work their pelvic muscles; it will be beneficial.
For psychological problems experienced during intimacy, couple and sex therapies can be recommended. This method worked quite well for Lorenzo, frankly. His trust in his partner increased, and they feel more open with each other as a couple. We think it could also be very helpful for your friend, but it would be good to consult a specialist nonetheless.
The bottom line is this: premature ejaculation is not a topic that your "friend" should dismiss. If he suspects the symptoms, seeing a doctor, getting a diagnosis, and starting treatment can prevent other problems he might experience in the future. If he can't find a solution with doctors, he can talk to therapists. Let's not forget, being healthy does not harm our masculinity.