Premature ejaculation is one of the most common sexual problems in men. It has been found to affect around 30 percent of men worldwide, says a study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research. During a steamy night in the bedroom, timing matters the most. Reaching climax sooner than expected may leave you and your partner unsatisfied. If continued, this sexual incapacity to ejaculate on time can start creating major issues in your relationship.
Premature ejaculation (or PE) can occur for a variety of reasons, from anxiety about ejaculating early to physical issues such as penile sensitivity, hormonal fluctuations and inflammation of the urethra or prostate.
Today, we’re delving into home remedies for premature ejaculation. We hear about them all the time, but do they really work?
Like most sexual disorders, there are a variety of treatments for premature ejaculation. Some, such as lidocaine delay spray, work by physically desensitizing the penis. Others, such as sertraline and other SSRIs, work by changing the way your brain behaves during sexual activity.
There are also countless home remedies for premature ejaculation. Below, we’ve listed several of the most common home-based PE treatments.
Home Based Premature Ejaculation Remedies
Ayurvedic herbal medicine
Ayurveda is India’s traditional healing system. It relies on thousands of herbs to treat everything from diabetes to inflammation. Certain Ayurvedic medicines, such as kaunch beej, kamini vidrawan ras, and yauvanamrit vati, are thought to treat premature ejaculation when taken in capsule form twice daily with lukewarm water. Ayurvedic medicine has also been used to treat erectile dysfunction.
A 2017 Sexual Medicine study found that men who used Ayurvedic medicine saw a slight, but significant, increase in the time it took to ejaculate during sex. Known potential side effects include:
- stomach pain
- dizziness
- mild pain
- decreased libido
Pelvic floor exercises
Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles can have a big impact on how long it takes you to climax. A 2014 Therapeutic Advances in Urology study, Trusted Source found that pelvic floor exercises can help men dealing with lifelong premature ejaculation control their ejaculatory reflex, increasing the time it takes for them to climax. To perform pelvic floor exercises:
- Find the right muscles by stopping mid-stream while peeing or tightening the muscles that stop you from passing gas.
- While laying down, contract your pelvic floor muscles for 3 seconds, and then relax for 3 seconds. Do this at least 10 times in a row. Repeat at least 3 times a day.
- Gradually increase the number of seconds as your muscles become stronger. Try new positions, such as standing, walking, or sitting down.
- Don’t forget to breathe, and remember to focus only on your pelvic floor muscles. Don’t tighten your abs, thighs, or buttocks.
Zinc and Magnesium-Rich Foods
While we won’t say definitively that there are foods to cure premature ejaculation, we will say comfortably that there’s some scientific evidence out there to back certain foods’ impacts on libido, PE, and sexual health.
Foods that are rich in zinc and magnesium are linked to some improvements in sexual health, from boosting testosterone (one of several hormones responsible for an optimal sex drive) to potentially improving your endurance and energy.
There’s also some evidence that being deficient in magnesium could affect your sexual health, contributing to premature ejaculation.
In a 2001 study, researchers compared the magnesium content in the sperm of normal, healthy men with the sperm of men with premature ejaculation. The researchers found that the men with premature ejaculation had lower levels of magnesium in their sperm than their peers.
Although there’s no direct, causal link between low seminal magnesium levels and premature ejaculation, the researchers believe that low magnesium levels could lead to vasoconstriction, affecting sexual performance and contributing to PE.
The solution? Magnesium-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds, as some types of fish (like salmon). These foods also tend to be rich in zinc, leading to increased levels of two of the most important minerals for optimal sexual health.
Stop-Start Strategy
The “stop-start” strategy is a simple way to avoid ejaculating early. It involves stopping movement when you feel an orgasm approaching, then starting again once you’re confident you aren’t about to ejaculate.
Performed right, the stop-start strategy can help you last longer in bed without using medication to delay orgasm. However, it’s important to get the timing right. Stop too late and there’s a real risk that you could orgasm early, rendering the strategy ineffective. Continuing before you’re confident you’re not about to orgasm could also create a significant risk of early climax.
Science tends to back up the effectiveness of the stop-start strategy. In one study, researchers found that while long-term results weren’t conclusive, short-term improvements were reported by 45 to 65 percent of men who used the technique.
Squeeze Technique
The “squeeze’ technique is another technique for treating premature ejaculation. Just like the stop-start strategy, it’s been in use since the 1950s. Using the squeeze technique is simple—just gently squeeze the base of your penis as you feel yourself approaching orgasm.
While there’s no specific length of time to squeeze your penis, most sources suggest about 30 seconds. Like the stop-start technique, the squeeze technique can be used as many times as you’d like during sex, letting you delay ejaculation for a fairly long period of time.
Now, does the squeeze technique really work? Like the stop-start strategy, there’s not a lot of long-term scientific data on the squeeze its effectiveness. However, it’s been a widely recommended tactic since the 1950s and an anecdotal favorite for men affected by PE.
Have ginger and honey
Ginger can increase blood flow to the penile muscles and enhance your control to ejaculate. Also, this kitchen ingredient is known to heat up the body and retain an erection. On the other hand, honey can increase the potency of ginger. You can mix a teaspoon of ginger in honey and consume it for better effects.
Take Away
Premature ejaculation is a completely normal and common type of sexual complaint. Any of these home remedies and natural treatments can help you manage your symptoms. But if premature ejaculation persists, you should see your doctor rule out any underlying causes and explore other treatment options.
