Between 30 and 40% of men suffer with some form of sexual dysfunction – and premature ejaculation is by far the most common.
While this subject may be the butt of bar room jokes everywhere, in reality it is no laughing matter for sufferers. It can cause stress, anxiety, affect relationships and severely dent confidence.
But what exactly is it?
The definitions of Premature Ejaculation range from "coming within six thrusts" to "coming within two minutes" and even "coming before your partner".
In reality, if you come before you really want to, and have little or no control, you would probably class yourself as a sufferer.
But what exactly causes Premature Ejaculation problems in so many men? Well, there are a number of potential causes.
Stress & anxiety
If you are experiencing any stress and anxiety in your life, it could be affecting your love life. If you’ve got things on your mind, it will help you to relax as much as possible before lovemaking, to get rid of that stress, albeit temporarily.
But probably the number on cause for most men stems from their early sexual experiences. For the majority of guys, their virginity was lost in their teenage years, where there was a certain amount of peer pressure. Consequently, the anxiety of that first sexual experience was intense; the pressure to perform – and the desire to “get it right” and not come across as sexually ineffective.
This pressure and anxiety can result in premature ejaculation. And once it happened once, next time there is the fear it may happen again, which again breads anxiety. And so a vicious cycle is born.
Many men get over this naturally, and proceed to have normal functions. But for many of us – particularly if you have that type of personality that dwells on things – this fear is self-perpetuating into adulthood.
Tiredness & depression
In some cases, tiredness or clinical depression may play a part. If you find yourself to be constantly tired, you may want to take a look at your general lifestyle and physical health to help improve the situation. If you suspect depression, again, you should seek medical assistance.
Relationship issues
Relationship issues can be stressful, and we’ve already seen how stress can get in the way of good sex. I promised this wouldn’t turn into therapy, but if you feel you have got relationship issues, they need to be sorted out at some point.
Health issues
Being “run down” or “under the weather” can be a contributing factor to Premature Ejaculation. However, these should only be short term – unless the original experiences have produced stress and anxiety about your lovemaking that continues long after the original cause.
Medical Reasons
Prostrate problems and infections such as urethritis are believed to cause Premature Ejaculation. Fortunately, these are in a very small minority of cases, and are treatable with medical assistance.
So what are the cures?
There are many cures touted, and they vary in their effectiveness. From creams to sprays, herbal remedies, and exercises – the list is endless.
The important thin to consider for any man seeking a cure, is look at your lifestyle and ask yourself the following questions.
Are you dating or in a relationship? If you are in a relationship, are you seeking a cure with your partners help, or do you want to go it alone. Is sex a planned occurrence or entirely spontaneous? Are you looking for short term fix or committed to a long-term cure?
Only with these answers, can you make an informed decision on what the right treatment is for you.
© 2005 Steve Armstrong.
About the Author: Steve Armstrong is author of “Lasting Longer”. For More information see http://www.my-health-expert.com