In this episode of the Urology Care Podcast, Aaron Spitz (Penis Book) discusses premature ejaculation (PE) and what patients need to know. The Urology Care Podcast is the official podcast of the Urology Care Foundation. To listen to more Urology Care Podcasts and to subscribe to the podcast, go to: https://www.urologyhealth.org/living-healthy/podcast #urologycarepodcast #PrematureEjaculation #PenisHealth

The Urology Care Foundation is the official foundation of the American Urological Association.

Ejaculation is the release of semen from the body. Premature ejaculation (PE) is when ejaculation happens sooner than a man or his partner would like during sex. Occasional PE is also known as rapid ejaculation, premature climax or early ejaculation. PE might not be a cause for worry. It can be frustrating if it makes sex less enjoyable and impacts relationships. But if it happens often and causes problems, your health care provider can help.

In the U.S., about 1 in 3 men 18 to 59 years old have problems with PE. The problem is often thought to be psychological, but biology may also play a role.

Sometimes PE is a problem for men who have erection problems (erectile dysfunction or ED). This is when men are not able to get or keep an erection that's firm enough for sex. Since an erection goes away after ejaculation, it can be difficult to know if the problem is PE or ED. ED should be treated first. Premature ejaculation may not be a problem once the ED is treated.

With PE, you may feel you lose some of the closeness shared with a sexual partner. You might feel angry, ashamed and upset, and turn away from your partner. Premature ejaculation doesn't only affect you, it also affects your partner. Your partner may be upset with the change in sexual intimacy. PE can cause partners to feel less connected, or feel hurt or distant.

Talking about the problem is an important step. Couples counseling or sex therapy can be helpful. Exercises, such as the squeeze technique, may be helpful for you and your partner to prolong an erection (see the treatment section of this article for details). Most importantly, a couple should learn ways to relax. Worry (such as performance anxiety) only makes PE worse.

By utilizing the different treatment methods, about 95 out of 100 men will recover from PE. There is no way to promise recovery, but learning how to relax helps. If the problem remains, continue to work with your health care provider to find solutions.