Premature ejaculation occurs when a man reaches orgasm and ejaculates too quickly and without control. In other words, ejaculation occurs before a man desires it. It may occur before or after beginning foreplay or intercourse. Some men experience significant personal distress because of this condition.

As many as one in five men experience difficulty with uncontrolled or early ejaculation at some point in life. When premature ejaculation happens so frequently that it interferes with the sexual pleasure of a man or his partner, it becomes a medical problem.

Several factors may contribute to premature ejaculation. Usually, the underlying cause is psychological. Stress, depression and other factors that affect mental and emotional health can aggravate this condition. Rarely, a physical cause, such as inflammation of the prostate gland or a spinal-cord problem, is a factor.

The key symptoms of premature ejaculation include:

• Ejaculation that routinely occurs with little sexual stimulation and with little control
• Decreased sexual pleasure because of poor control over ejaculation
• Feelings of guilt, embarrassment or frustration

Premature ejaculation is diagnosed based on typical symptoms. To understand your problem, your doctor will need to discuss your sexual history with you. Be frank and open. The more your doctor knows, the better he or she can help you.

If your sexual history fails to reveal significant mental or emotional factors that might contribute to premature ejaculation, your doctor may want to perform a physical examination. Your doctor may examine your prostate or perform neurological tests (tests of your nervous system) to determine if there is an underlying physical problem.

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