Print OverviewPremature ejaculation occurs in men when semen leave the body (ejaculate) sooner than wanted during sex. Premature ejaculation is a common sexual complaint. As many as 1 out of 3 people say they have it at some time. Premature ejaculation isn't cause for concern if it doesn't happen often. But you might be diagnosed with premature ejaculation if you: Always or nearly always ejaculate within 1 to 3 minutes of penetration Are not able to delay ejaculation during sex all or nearly all the time Feel distressed and frustrated, and tend to avoid sexual intimacy as a result Premature ejaculation is a treatable condition. Medications, counseling and techniques that delay ejaculation can help improve sex for you and your partner. SymptomsThe main symptom of premature ejaculation is not being able to delay ejaculation for more than three minutes after penetration. But it might occur in all sexual situations, even during masturbation. Premature ejaculation can be classified as: Lifelong. Lifelong premature ejaculation occurs all or nearly all the time beginning with the first sexual encounter. Acquired. Acquired premature ejaculation develops after having previous sexual experiences without problems with ejaculation. Many people feel that they have symptoms of premature ejaculation, but the symptoms don't meet the criteria for a diagnosis. It's typical to experience early ejaculation at times. When to see a doctorTalk with your health care provider if you ejaculate sooner than you wish during most sexual encounters. It's common to feel embarrassed about discussing sexual health concerns. But don't let that keep you from talking to your provider. Premature ejaculation is common and treatable. A conversation with a care provider might help lessen concerns. For example, it might be reassuring to hear that it's typical to experience premature ejaculation from time to time. It may also help to know that the average time from the beginning of intercourse to ejaculation is about five minutes. Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry CausesThe exact cause of premature ejaculation isn't known. It was once thought to be only psychological. But health care providers now know that premature ejaculation involves a complex interaction of psychological and biological factors. Psychological causesPsychological factors that might play a role include: Early sexual experiences Sexual abuse Poor body image Depression Worrying about premature ejaculation Guilty feelings that can cause you to rush through sex Other factors that can play a role include: Erectile dysfunction. Being anxious about getting and keeping an erection might form a pattern of rushing to ejaculate. The pattern can be difficult to change. Anxiety. It's common for premature ejaculation and anxiety to occur together. The anxiety may be about sexual performance or related to other issues. Relationship problems. Relationship issues can contribute to premature ejaculation. This may be true if you've had sexual relationships with other partners in which premature ejaculation didn't happen often. Biological causesA number of biological factors might contribute to premature ejaculation. They may include: Irregular hormone levels Irregular levels of brain chemicals Swelling and infection of the prostate or urethra Inherited traits Risk factorsVarious factors can increase the risk of premature ejaculation. They may include: Erectile dysfunction. You might be at increased risk of premature ejaculation if you have trouble getting or keeping an erection. Fear of losing an erection might cause you to hurry through sex. This may happen whether you're aware of it or not. Stress. Emotional or mental strain in any area of life can play a role in premature ejaculation. Stress can limit the ability to relax and focus during sex. ComplicationsPremature ejaculation can cause issues in your personal life. They might include: Stress and relationship problems. A common complication of premature ejaculation is relationship stress. Fertility problems. Premature ejaculation can sometimes make it hard for a partner to get pregnant. This may happen if ejaculation doesn't occur in the vagina. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment July 14, 2022 Print Show references Ferri FF. Ejaculation and orgasm disorders. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2022. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 3, 2022. Melmed S, et al. Sexual dysfunction in men and women. In: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 3, 2022. Veettil Raveendran A, et al. Premature ejaculation — Current concepts in the management: A narrative review. International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine. 2021; doi:10.18502/ijrm.v19i1.8176. Partin AW, et al., eds. Disorders of male orgasm and ejaculation. In: Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 3, 2022. Shindel AW, et al. Disorders of ejaculation: An AUA/SMSNA guide. Journal of Urology. 2022; doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002392. Gillman N, et al. Premature ejaculation: Aetiology and treatment strategies. Medical Sciences. 2019; doi:10.3390/medsci7110102. Myers C, et al. Pelvic floor muscle training improves erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation: A systematic review. Physiotherapy. 2019: doi:10.1016/j.physio.2019.01.002. Sexual dysfunctions. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5-TR. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2022. https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org. Accessed May 11, 2022. Kegel exercises. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kegel-exercises. Accessed May 3, 2022. Chen T, et al. Medical treatment of disorders of ejaculation. The Urologic Clinics of North America. 2022; doi:10.1016/j.ucl.2021.12.001. Tramadol oral. Facts & Comparisons eAnswers. https://fco.factsandcomparisons.com. Accessed May 11, 2022. Khera M. Treatment of male sexual dysfunction. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 3, 2022. Related Associated Procedures Cognitive behavioral therapy Premature ejaculationSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. 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