Premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation treatment, online
Premature ejaculation (PE) means ejaculating sooner than you or your partner would like, consistently, in a way that causes distress. The timing itself matters less than whether it bothers you — and it is one of the most treatable sexual problems there is.
Around one in three men report premature ejaculation at some point. It is the most commonly reported sexual difficulty in men under 40, and it is widely under-treated because people do not raise it.
A consultation does not guarantee a prescription. A prescriber decides what, if anything, is appropriate for you.
What counts as premature ejaculation
- Ejaculating within about a minute of penetration, most times
- Feeling unable to delay ejaculation when you want to
- Distress, frustration or avoiding sex because of it
- Lifelong — present since you first became sexually active
- Acquired — a change from how things used to be
What causes premature ejaculation
Physical causes
- Differences in serotonin signalling, which is thought to underlie lifelong PE
- Inflammation or infection of the prostate
- An overactive thyroid
- Erectile dysfunction, where rushing to finish before losing an erection becomes a habit
- Withdrawal from some recreational drugs
Psychological causes
- Performance anxiety, particularly with a new partner
- Early sexual experiences where speed was necessary
- Depression and stress
- Relationship difficulties
Treatment options
This is the full range, including the options we don't provide. Which one is right is a decision for you and a prescriber together — not something to choose from a list.
Behavioural techniques
Via your GP or a specialistThe stop-start and squeeze methods train you to recognise and hold back from the point of no return. They cost nothing, work for many people, and are a reasonable first step.
Thicker or climax-control condoms
Via your GP or a specialistReduce sensation slightly. Widely available without a prescription, and worth trying before medication.
Topical anaesthetics
Available through this serviceSprays and creams applied shortly before sex that reduce sensitivity. Some are available from a pharmacy without a prescription. They should be wiped off before contact to avoid numbing a partner.
Oral SSRIs
Available through this serviceA class of prescription-only medicine in which delayed ejaculation is a well-recognised effect. Some are taken daily and some shortly before sex. They are not suitable alongside certain other medicines, and they take time to work.
Psychosexual therapy
Via your GP or a specialistParticularly effective where anxiety or relationship factors are prominent, and works well combined with medication.
Treating an underlying cause
Via your GP or a specialistWhere PE is driven by erectile dysfunction, prostatitis or thyroid disease, treating that comes first and often resolves the problem on its own.
What helps day to day
Treat erection problems first
If you have both, the erection problem usually drives the timing problem. Treating them the other way round rarely works.
Bring your partner in
The behavioural techniques work far better with a partner's involvement, and the distress is usually shared.
Don't rely on alcohol
It delays ejaculation in the short term and causes erectile problems in the longer term. It is not a strategy.
Give medication time
Daily SSRI treatment takes one to two weeks to reach full effect. Judging it after two attempts will mislead you.
When to see a doctor instead
Book an appointment if any of these apply
- Pain on ejaculation, or blood in your semen
- Premature ejaculation that started suddenly in an established relationship
- Symptoms alongside difficulty getting or keeping an erection
- Weight loss, tremor or palpitations, which can suggest thyroid problems
- Low mood or anxiety that is affecting more than your sex life
Common questions
How soon is too soon?
Clinical definitions use about one minute from penetration for lifelong PE, and about three minutes for acquired PE. But the definition also requires distress — if the timing does not bother you or your partner, it does not need treating.
Will I need to take something every day?
Not necessarily. Some treatments are taken daily and some shortly before sex, and topical options are used only when needed. A prescriber will weigh up which fits your situation.
Can I use treatment with erectile dysfunction medication?
Sometimes, but the usual approach is to treat the erectile dysfunction first and reassess. Some PE treatments can make erections harder to achieve, so combining them without a prescriber's input is not a good idea.
Does it come back if I stop?
Medication treats the symptom rather than the cause, so it usually does. Behavioural techniques and therapy are more likely to produce lasting change, which is why they are often recommended alongside.
Is this confidential?
Yes. Your consultation is seen by the prescriber reviewing it and our pharmacy team. We only contact your GP if you have agreed to it, or in the rare circumstances where a prescriber judges it clinically necessary to keep you safe.
Related conditions
This page is for information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Last reviewed October 2026 by the clinical team.
Ready to see where you stand?
The consultation takes about five minutes and costs nothing. You'll only pay if a prescriber decides treatment is right for you.