What is Premature Ejaculation?

A man who has an orgasm and emission of semen occurring just before or shortly after beginning sexual intercourse is clinically diagnosed with Premature Ejaculation (PE). PE is perhaps the most common sexual health condition affecting approximately 33% of men at some point in their lives.

A committee at the International Society of Sexual Medicine (ISSM) describes PE as either lifelong or acquired. Lifelong PE is a male sexual dysfunction present from the patient’s first sexual encounter, in which ejaculation consistently occurs prior to, or within 1-3 minutes of penetration. Acquired PE can develop later in adulthood, even in patients with a prior history of normal sexual function. Acquired PE is described as a reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less

Causes of Premature Ejaculation

While the exact cause of PE is unknown, it may be linked to low levels of a neurotransmitter called serotonin in the brain. PE is thought to be more common in men diagnosed with depression, metabolic syndrome, thyroid disorders, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, prostatitis, recreational drug use, and erectile or other sexual dysfunctions.