Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is the most common sexual dysfunction. There is disagreement on what exactly qualifies as premature ejaculation - some doctors or sex experts say that it's coming after a few minutes, others say it's coming before your partner. 30% of men live with premature ejaculation, according to a survey conducted by the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS). Unlike erectile dysfunction, which in most cases is physiological, premature ejaculation is more from lack of practice in controlling their orgasm. But like erectile dysfunction, the biggest harm premature ejaculation causes is to a man's confidence.

There are a few techniques that have been proven useful, and are helpful whether the problem is chronic or only from time to time, such as with a new partner.

One form men have employed to halt getting off prematurely is to masturbate before sex. Young guys can get off several times a day, no problem, but for older men who've never learned ways to halt their orgasms before now, there just aren't the same reserves.

The most common of all methods in fighting premature ejaculation is to think about something different. I'm sure you've heard the line "Just think about baseball." I'm sure you've even tried it at one time or another. And it may have worked, even. This method should be used in times of emergency, when all else has failed, but we want you to enjoy sex more, not less.

Thicker condoms are probably the easiest fix of all. The thicker the condom the less sensitivity, making it harder for you to get off and thus making sex last longer. Have you seen the ads for thinner condoms, claiming they increase sensitivity? While it is effective in a sense, it's also similar to thinking about baseball - the method's success is built around you enjoying sex less. This also doesn't fix the problem, it simply masks it. Why not try a technique that really works without dulling your enjoyment?

It's going to take a little work before you're at the top of your game, but it will be worth it. The start and stop method and breathing exercises are both crucial. First practice the start and stop before masturbation. Masturbate as normal, but this time as you feel yourself coming, stop. When you've calmed down a bit, as in you're no longer close to orgasm but are still hard, continue. Do the same thing again. See how long you can do this for. With practice, how long you can hold yourself orgasm will increase. Practice with a partner is crucial. While you're having sexual intercourse, stop when you feel yourself starting to come. While inside them, have you and your partner keep still. Kissing and caressing can still continue. Start moving again once you feel yourself calm enough but still hard.

Breathing is so vital to holding off getting off. Breathing through your mouth increases heart rate and signals to your body that you're ready. By breathing through your nose in steady breaths, you're in control. Like with the start and stop method, practice is vital. If this is a little too hard, try breathing in through your mouth and out through your nose.

For those who want to go the extra mile in extending sex, and thus enjoying it for longer, there is meditation. Meditation has been used for hundreds of years in sexual practice. I'm sure you've heard of Sting, the lead singer of the Police, claiming he has sex with his wife for hours. This is due to tantric sex, a part of Tantra which is a tradition of Hinduism and other belief systems rooted in Asia. Extremely difficult and intense to learn, it is only one example in which meditation will help your sex life.

The most important thing to keep in mind is practice, no matter the method you decide to use. While it doesn't seem like breathing exercises during masturbation are going to please your partner, it can bring you better sex than you've had in the past. Believe us, your girlfriend will thank you.