What is Premature Ejaculation (PE)?  

Definitions and how commonly it occurs!

Background:

Many of the sexual issues are primarily not big problems. Because of the taboos and social beliefs they are not discussed openly, hence failed to get resolved. And they become big, because of continuous worry they give.

In fact most of the times they are not even any symptom of any organic disease processor functional problem. Many of them are very basic issues because of ignorance, myths, and social taboos lead to development of anxieties, distress and further worsening of the problem in question.

With basic issues what I mean is, that very commonly men are concerned about their performance in bed with their partner either wife or girlfriend. How best then can do, concern about their masturbation habits, size of penis, sperm quality and many more. 

I am not writing this as a routine article for the sake of it, but truly it is the synopsis of a practice / experience spread over few years and interaction with hundred / thousands of people (shall not call them patients barring small percentage).

Premature Ejaculation (PE) is one of them. Not a disease; Not at all!

The person is sexually fit, having normal erections but just fails to hold the orgasm/ discharge for reasonable time. A very basic problem, but one gets worried. But we need to reassure it is not a disease and can be easily manageable.

We will discuss this topic of Premature Ejaculation (PE) in 4 parts including what is it, how it happens, how to approach to resolve this problem with behavioural methods, exercises, techniques and medical remedies both modern as well as alternative medicine.

Defining Premature Ejaculation (PE):

Premature (early) ejaculation (PE) many a times is called with different names like "rapid ejaculation", "early ejaculation" or simply called as "early discharge".

PE is the most common type of sexual dysfunction in men younger than 40 years and seen across all age groups. In elderly, more than 60 years of men, erectile dysfunction can be seen more commonly. In a study conducted by the Journal of Sexual Medicine, that revealed that this condition is almost equally prevalent in sexually active men of all age groups. 

If a man experiences uncontrollable ejaculation (discharge of semen from your penis) either before or shortly after sexual penetration (usually within 1-2 minutes of penetration), you may be suffering from premature ejaculation. 

Mayo clinic at USA defines PE when a man “always or nearly always ejaculates within one minute of penetration”.

An occasional instance of premature ejaculation might not be cause for concern, but, if the problem occurs with more than 50% of attempted sexual relations, an abnormal pattern usually exists for which treatment may be required.

Premature ejaculation typically takes place with negligible sexual stimulation and even before you wish to ejaculate. As a consequence of premature ejaculation, both you and your partner may end up experiencing highly unsatisfactory sex. In fact, it can dramatically increase anxiety, which may worsen the problem. 

Another way of describing premature ejaculation by most therapist or clinicians who treat PE is that as the occurrence of ejaculation sooner during sexual intercourse than he or his partner would like.

This broad definition thus avoids specifying a precise “normal” duration for sexual activity and reaching a climax. The duration of sexual activity is highly variable and depends on many factors specific to each individual.

Take a situation, a male may reach orgasm after 7 to 8 minutes of sexual intercourse, but if his partner is able to achieve climax most of the times in 5 minutes and both are satisfied with this timing, then this is not PE.

Alternatively, a male might delay his ejaculation for up to 15- 20 minutes of sexual intercourse, but if his partner, even with foreplay, requires 25-30 minutes of total sexual activity before reaching climax, he may still consider his ejaculation premature because his partner has not been satisfied (at least, not through intercourse). But in routine practice we do not like to call this kind of situation as PE.

So every individual is unique. Every couple is unique. Same individual may have different sexual behaviour with different partners at different times. Varied situations and varied places of performing the act have a role to play in determining the outcomes of individual sexual performance/s.

Statistics of PE:

You are not alone! Premature Ejaculation-PE is a common sexual complaint. Estimates vary, but as many as 30-40 % men across the world including India experience problem of PE at some time of life.

Approximately 30%-70% of American males experience premature ejaculation. The National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) indicate a prevalence of 30%, which is fairly spread across all adult age groups. Estimates of premature ejaculation rates in India and many European countries are similar to those of the United States.

That is all for today’s information on this topic. In the next follow up parts, I shall discuss, types of PE, how it happens, how to approach the men / couple suffering from it to resolve this problem. The therapy includes wide spectrum of approach including counselling, behavioural methods, exercises, techniques and medical remedies both modern as well as alternative medicines.