Urology
Medicines for Premature ejaculation
When ejaculation happens sooner than wanted during sex, consistently and in a way that causes distress — the commonest male sexual problem, often with an anxiety component, and very treatable with behavioural techniques, sometimes a topical anaesthetic, and where needed a medicine to delay ejaculation.
Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
Quick answer
What is Premature ejaculation?
Premature ejaculation means ejaculating sooner than a man or his partner would like during sex, in a way that happens consistently and causes distress, frustration or avoidance of intimacy. It is the most common male sexual problem and can affect men of any age.
- How it is treated: The aim is to lengthen the time to ejaculation enough to restore satisfying, unhurried sex, and to ease the worry and relationship strain that often surround the problem.
- Self-care: Practising behavioural techniques such as stop-start and squeeze, involving and communicating openly with a partner, reducing performance pressure and anxiety, addressing stress, and tackling any erectile difficulty alongside all help to improve control and confidence over time.
- When to seek help: See your GP or a sexual health service if ejaculating sooner than you want is happening regularly, is causing you or your partner distress, or is making you avoid intimacy — this is common and treatable, and asking for help is a sensible first step rather than something to feel embarrassed about.
What it is
Premature ejaculation means ejaculating sooner than a man or his partner would like during sex, in a way that happens consistently and causes distress, frustration or avoidance of intimacy. It is the most common male sexual problem and can affect men of any age. For some it has been present from their very first sexual experiences (lifelong), while for others it develops later after a period of normal control (acquired). There is often a psychological or emotional thread running through it — performance anxiety, stress, relationship tension or unrealistic expectations can all play a part and can feed a cycle in which worry about ejaculating quickly makes it more likely. It can also occur alongside erectile difficulty, where rushing to ejaculate before losing an erection becomes a habit. Crucially, it is common, it is not a sign of poor health or failure, and it responds well to treatment, so it is worth talking about rather than living with.
How it is treated
The aim is to lengthen the time to ejaculation enough to restore satisfying, unhurried sex, and to ease the worry and relationship strain that often surround the problem. Treatment usually starts with simple, well-established behavioural techniques that a man can practise alone or with a partner — the "stop-start" method (pausing stimulation as climax approaches and resuming once the urge settles) and the "squeeze" technique (gently squeezing the head of the penis to reduce arousal) — which help build awareness and control over time. A topical anaesthetic applied to the penis before sex can reduce sensitivity and delay ejaculation for some men. Where these are not enough, a medicine that delays ejaculation may be added: a short-acting tablet taken before sex, or in some cases an everyday tablet from the same family of antidepressants used off-label for this purpose. Addressing the bigger picture matters too — reducing anxiety, working through relationship factors with a partner or a psychosexual therapist, and treating any erectile difficulty often makes the biggest difference of all.
For this condition, these medicines
Medicine classes used for Premature ejaculation
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
Beyond medication
Lifestyle and self-care
Practising behavioural techniques such as stop-start and squeeze, involving and communicating openly with a partner, reducing performance pressure and anxiety, addressing stress, and tackling any erectile difficulty alongside all help to improve control and confidence over time.
When to get help
When to see a doctor
See your GP or a sexual health service if ejaculating sooner than you want is happening regularly, is causing you or your partner distress, or is making you avoid intimacy — this is common and treatable, and asking for help is a sensible first step rather than something to feel embarrassed about. It is also worth seeking advice if the problem has come on suddenly after years of normal control, if it occurs alongside difficulty getting or keeping an erection, or if it is putting strain on your relationship or mood. There is no need to wait until things feel serious; effective help is available and a confidential conversation can get things moving.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
Answers
Premature ejaculation: frequently asked questions
What medicines are used for premature ejaculation?
When behavioural techniques and a topical anaesthetic to reduce sensitivity are not enough, a medicine that delays ejaculation may be used. This usually comes from the SSRI family of antidepressants, which have a side effect of lengthening the time to ejaculation — either a short-acting tablet taken before sex, or in some cases an everyday tablet used off-label for this purpose. Any erectile difficulty is treated as well, since the two often go together. Your GP or a sexual health service can advise which approach suits you, used alongside behavioural techniques and attention to anxiety and relationship factors.
Do behavioural techniques like stop-start and squeeze actually work?
Yes — for many men, behavioural techniques are an effective starting point and can improve control without any medication. The "stop-start" method involves pausing stimulation as you feel close to climax and resuming once the urge passes, while the "squeeze" technique uses a gentle squeeze to the head of the penis to reduce arousal. Practised regularly, alone or with a partner, they build awareness of the point of no return and help you last longer over time. They take patience and often work best combined with reducing anxiety and good communication with a partner.
Is premature ejaculation linked to anxiety?
Often, yes. Performance anxiety, stress, relationship tension and unrealistic expectations can all contribute, and worry about ejaculating quickly can itself make it more likely — a self-reinforcing cycle. This is why treatment usually looks beyond the physical, addressing anxiety, communication and relationship factors alongside behavioural techniques or medication. For some men, talking to a psychosexual therapist, on their own or as a couple, is a valuable part of the plan. Recognising the emotional side does not mean the problem is "all in the mind" — it is simply one of several treatable factors.
Can premature ejaculation be cured?
It is very treatable, and many men gain good, lasting control. Because there are different causes — some lifelong, some developing later, some tied to anxiety or to erectile difficulty — the right approach varies, and it can take some trial and patience to find what works. Behavioural techniques, a topical anaesthetic, medicines that delay ejaculation, and addressing anxiety and relationship factors can be used alone or together. Treating any erectile difficulty at the same time is important, as the two often overlap. Speaking to a professional rather than struggling alone is the best route to improvement.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- British Association of Urological Surgeons: Premature ejaculation.
- NICE CKS: Erectile dysfunction.
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