How long timr should last to be satisfying for a couple differs between individuals. One study found the average time was five and a half minutes from penetration to ejaculation.

Ejaculating before entering the partner or within a minute of penetration is usually seen as a medical condition needing treatment if it happens regularly and is of concern to a man or his partner.


Around 3% of men visit their GP about premature ejaculation.

Premature ejaculation can affect men of any age, but may be more common in the 20s and teenage years.

Causes of premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation can be due to over excitement or increased sensitivity triggering an orgasm sooner than a man would like.

Some men may have a more sensitive penis than others.

Anxiety may be to blame for premature ejaculation for some men, who may speed-up intercourse because of worries they will lose their erection before orgasm.

Some medical conditions may affect ejaculation for older men, including diabetes, prostate gland problems, narrowing of the arteries and some neurological conditions. Help for premature ejaculation

Help for premature ejaculation can be via a GP, who can check for possible physical causes and suggest techniques to slow ejaculation. If there is no underlying medical cause, psychological causes may be investigated.

Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be recommended to help with premature ejaculation.



Different techniques work for different men. Some find that thinking about something else, the more boring the better, can temporarily put off the moment ejaculation.