Premature Ejaculation (PE) 101 Guide : What Is It And How To Get It Treated In Hong Kong

What Is Premature Ejaculation?

Premature Ejaculation (PE) is a sexual dysfunction condition where a man ejaculates sooner than he would like.

A common form of male sexual dysfunction, premature ejaculation affects as many as 1 in 3 men. Premature ejaculation comes in two types: Lifelong PE (occurs all or nearly all the time from the first sexual encounter) or Acquired PE (developed after previous encounters).

What Are The Causes Of Premature Ejaculation?

Causes of premature ejaculation can vary from biological reasons to psychologicals reasons. These causes can also vary between the two types of PE: Lifelong PE and acquired PE.

Lifelong PE can be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain that controls ejaculation. Lifelong PE can also be caused by psychological factors like distressing sexual experiences.

Acquired PE can often be caused by sexual performance anxiety ("stage fright"). This could arise from self-esteem issues, body image issues or an insecurity about sexual experience. Erectile dysfunction (the inability to get or maintain an erection) can also be a cause of acquired PE.

Premature Ejaculation Treatment Options Available In Hong Kong

Here are some of the most common PE treatments available in Hong Kong:

1. Premature Ejaculation Medication

Priligy (Dapoxetine) is a medication commonly prescribed to treat PE. Belonging to a class of medication called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), they treat PE by increasing the serotonin levels in the body. This causes a delayed reaction in the part of the brain that controls ejaculation, allowing for a prolonged sexual experience before orgasm.

It is recommended that Priligy is take 1 to 3 hours before sexual activity.

Priligy comes in 2 doses - 30mg and 60mg. Most doctors prescribe their patients 30mg to start their treatment.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to purchase any oral PE medication over-the-counter in Hong Kong. You will need to see a doctor for a prescription.

2. PE Creams and Sprays

Delay sprays and creams can be prescribed by doctors as a form of PE treatment. They contain a mild anesthetic like lidocaine which reduces the sensitivity of skin tissues and muscles.

Lidocaine produces a numbing sensation by preventing nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.

As overly sensitivity is a common cause of PE, reducing this sensitivity will help the user last longer during sexual intercourse. It is important to note that this numbing sensation will not be felt throughout the entire penis and that you will be able to enjoy sex after applying it.

How To Prevent Premature Ejaculation

Most men will experience PE at some point in their lives, though the severity might vary. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent PE and that don't require medication. Through psycho-behavioural techniques, men can improve their stamina to gradually stop PE and prolong the duration before orgasm.

1. The "Pause-Squeeze" Technique

The pause-squeeze technique is based largely on William Masters and Virginia Johnson’s “squeeze technique”, which they developed in the 1970s.

The aim of the pause-squeeze technique is to teach men how to be in control of their ejaculation. This helps men  to delay orgasm and last longer in bed.

The area where the shaft of the penis meets the head is called the frenulum. For men who experience PE, the stimulation felt in their frenulum is quite intense which causes them to ejaculate quickly.

To treat premature ejaculation, the pause-squeeze technique has you use your thumb and finger to apply gentle pressure to the frenulum just before ejaculation. You should apply pressure for a few seconds until the feeling of ejaculates passes. This prevents your ejaculate from leaving the body.

You should wait 30 seconds after releasing pressure before resuming sex or masturbation.

By doing repeated pause-squeeze exercises, this will help you last longer during sex.

2. The "Stop-Start (Edging)" Technique

If the "pause-squeeze" technique is uncomfortable, then perhaps you should try the stop-start technique ("edging") instead.

Both the "pause-squeeze" and the "stop-start" technique are very similar, with the main difference being that the "stop-start" technique does not require your hands.

Rather than physically squeezing your frenulum, you simply stop having any form of sexual stimulation right before ejaculation. Similar to the "pause-squeeze" technique, you should resume having sex or masturbation after the feeling of ejaculation has passed.

You can repeat this technique several times in one session.

According to a study conducted in 2011, 45-65% of men reported that they found success using the "stop-start" technique.

3. Kegel Exercises

Also known as pelvic floor exercises, kegel exercises are a great way to prevent PE. Weak pelvic floor muscles can be the cause of PE as they can make it harder for you to stop ejaculation.

To find where and how to activate your pelvic floor muscles, stop urination midway. The muscles used to stop urination are your pelvic floor muscles.

To get started on kegel exercises, begin by tightening your pelvic floor muscles for 3 seconds before relaxing them for another 3 seconds. Repeat this process another 10 times.

What makes Kegel exercises so great is their convenience factor as you can do these exercises anywhere. Always remember to breathe through the exercises and not to hold it.