Premature ejaculation (PE) is a sexual disorder that affects 20-40% of men.
It is characterized by an ejaculatory reflex that occurs "too soon", within two minutes of penetration or intense sexual excitement. Two minutes is the maximum time frame for an ejaculation to be considered premature. Often the time frame is much shorter, from 30 seconds to one minute. In some cases, ejaculation may occur a few seconds after intercourse has begun.
Premature ejaculation is defined according to three characteristics :
- Management of sexual excitement considered too short ;
- Lack of control over this excitement
- the man has absolutely no control over his ejaculation ;
- Suffering and frustration caused by this disorder. PE can often cause a painful personal situation and a feeling of guilt towards a partner.
There are basically two types of premature ejaculation :
Primary premature ejaculation: it occurs almost every time, at the beginning of the sexual act.
Secondary premature ejaculation: occurs during normal sexual relations, but can be caused by occasional stress, anxiety or other life factors.
PE is the number one sexual disorder in men under 30 years of age. This trend remains stable with age. It affects 22% of men aged 40-49 and 23% of those aged 50-59.
Good to know :
The one aspect that really characterizes premature ejaculation is THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE EJACULATION.
A man suffering from premature ejaculation will not only ejaculate too quickly, he will also be unable to control this physical reaction.
Conversely, a person with "normal" ejaculation will be able to control and fully anticipate his ejaculation, feeling the "point of no return" coming.
The notions of ejaculation control and "point of no return" will be explained in the FAQ section.