Are you struggling with premature ejaculation? It’s common and nothing to be ashamed of, but it can be frustrating and impact your sexual satisfaction. Some signs that you may be experiencing PE include: ejaculating before or shortly after vaginal penetration, ejaculating before you or your partner desires, feeling anxious or distressed about ejaculating too soon, and having difficulty delaying ejaculation during sexual activity.
Remember, every person is different, so what might be a symptom for one person may not be for another
Ejaculating before or shortly after vaginal penetration:
One of the most obvious symptoms of PE is ejaculating before or shortly after vaginal penetration. This can be defined in different ways, depending on the source. The International Society of Sexual Medicine (ISSM) defines PE as “ejaculation that occurs before or shortly after vaginal penetration,” while the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines it as “persistent or recurrent ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation before, on, or shortly after penetration and before the person wishes it.” Essentially, if you’re finishing too soon, that’s a potential symptom of PE.
Ejaculating before the person wishes it:
According to the DSM-5 definition, another symptom of PE is ejaculating before the person wishes it. This can be subjective and will depend on the individual’s preferences and expectations. For example, some people may feel that ejaculating within a minute of sexual activity is too soon, while others may be okay with a shorter latency. If you feel like you’re ejaculating before you or your partner are ready, that could be a symptom of PE.
Feeling distressed or anxious about ejaculating too soon:
The ISSM defines PE as “accompanied by feelings of distress or anxiety.” In other words, if you’re finishing too soon and it’s causing you stress or anxiety, that’s a symptom of PE. It’s worth noting that this is a subjective symptom and will depend on the individual’s experience. Some men may be more sensitive to the distress and anxiety associated with PE than others.
Difficulty delaying ejaculation during sexual activity
Another symptom of premature ejaculation is difficulty delaying ejaculation during sexual activity. This can be described as having little control over when you ejaculate, even with minimal sexual stimulation. You may feel like you’re unable to hold off on ejaculating, no matter how hard you try. This can be frustrating and may make it difficult to enjoy sexual activity.
In conclusion, some of the symptoms of premature ejaculation include ejaculating before or shortly after vaginal penetration, ejaculating before the person wishes it, feeling distressed or anxious about ejaculating too soon, and difficulty delaying ejaculation during sexual activity. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, there are a number of things that you can do about it.
What’s Causing These Symptoms?
There are a number of potential premature ejaculation causes that may be behind these symptoms. Here are a few possible triggers:
- Anxiety: Premature ejaculation can be caused by anxiety, especially performance-related anxiety during sex.
- Stress: The body’s response to stress, both physical and psychological, may cause premature ejaculation in some men.
- Relationship problems: Poor communication or unresolved conflicts with a partner may lead to issues with sexual satisfaction which could manifest as premature ejaculation for the man involved in the relationship dynamics being experienced at that time period.
- Hormonal imbalances: Low levels of certain hormones such as testosterone have been linked to delayed orgasm and/or reduced libido resulting in PE symptoms.
- Unresolved guilt or trauma: A history of unresolved sexual issues or traumatic experiences may contribute to PE.
- Medications side-effects: Some drugs such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) can have delayed ejaculation as a potential side effect.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED): ED is often linked with premature ejaculation due to the lack of control one has over his own arousal level when an erection isn’t sustained for long periods of time
How To Prevent These Premature Ejaculation Symptoms
Here are a few of the ways that you can prevent the premature ejaculation symptoms you are experiencing
- Learn how to train yourself to last longer in bed
- Strengthen pelvic muscles through Kegels exercises to delay ejaculation.
- Put on a condom for reduced sensation and longer intercourse duration.
- Talk with a mental health professional in cases of anxiety or depression causing premature ejaculation (PE).
- Utilize medications for premature ejaculation such as antidepressants, topical anesthetics, etc., that may temporarily help while underlying issues are addressed by counseling or lifestyle changes..
- Try mindfulness techniques like deep breathing and visualization of calming scenes which might work for men struggling with PE
