Ejaculation Problems
Ejaculation problems are common sexual problems in men.
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The 3 main types of ejacualtion problems are:
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premature ejaculation
delayed ejaculation
retrograde ejaculation
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If you have a persistent problem with ejaculation, visit your GP, who will discuss the problem with you and may examine you or refer you to a specialist.
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Premature Ejaculation
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Premature ejaculation is the most common ejaculation problem. It's where the male ejaculates too quickly during sexual intercourse.
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Premature ejaculation (PE) is when you have an orgasm before intercourse or less than a minute after you start. There is no set time when a man should ejaculate during sex, but if you ejaculate and lose your erection this soon, you and your wife may feel there's not enough time to enjoy intimacy with each other.
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A study looking at 500 couples from 5 different countries found the average time taken to ejaculate during intercourse was around 5-and-a-half minutes. However, it's up to each couple to decide if they’re happy with the time taken – there's no definition of how long sex should last.
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Occasional episodes of premature ejaculation are common and are not a cause for concern. However, if you're finding that around half of your attempts at sex result in premature ejaculation, it might help to get treatment.
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Causes of Premature Ejaculation
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Various psychological and physical factors can cause a man to suddenly experience premature ejaculation.
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Common physical causes include:
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prostate problems
thyroid problems – an overactive or underactive thyroid gland
using recreational drugs
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Common psychological causes include:
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depression
stress
relationship problems
anxiety about sexual performance (particularly at the start of a new relationship, or when a man has had previous problems with sexual performance)
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It's possible, but less common, for a man to have always experienced premature ejaculation since becoming sexually active. A number of possible causes for this are:
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conditioning – it's possible that early sexual experiences can influence future sexual behaviour. For example, if a teenager conditions himself to ejaculate quickly to avoid being caught masturbating, it may later be difficult to break the habit
a traumatic sexual experience from childhood – this can range from being caught masturbating to sexual abuse
a strict upbringing and beliefs about sex
biological reasons – some men may find their penis is extra sensitive
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Treating Premature Ejaculation
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There are a number of things you can try yourself before seeking medical help.
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Measures you can try yourself
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It can sometimes help to:
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use a thick condom to help decrease sensation
take a deep breath to briefly shut down the ejaculatory reflex (an automatic reflex of the body during which ejaculation occurs)
have sex with your Wife on top (to allow them to pull away when you are close to ejaculating)
take breaks during sex, focus on pleasing your Wife and reduce physical contact to you penis.
"Unlearn" the habit of premature ejaculation (the 2 most popular techniques are the "squeeze" and "stop-go" techniques)
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Squeeze & Stop-Go
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In the squeeze technique, your Wife masturbates you, but stops before the point of ejaculation and squeezes the head of your penis for between 10 to 20 seconds. She then lets go and waits for another 30 seconds before resuming masturbation. This process is carried out several times before ejaculation is allowed to occur.
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The stop-go technique is similar, but your Wife does not squeeze your penis. Once you feel more confident about delaying ejaculation, you and your Wife can begin to have sex, stopping and starting as required.
These techniques may sound simple, but they require lots of practice.
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