Diagnosing premature ejaculation

How do you know if you have premature ejaculation? Whilst this may appear an obvious question, it is nevertheless, important to ask as you may have another type of ejaculation problem such as retarded ejaculation.

There is more than one type of this problem but the chances are that you will have premature ejaculation as this is this is more common than other similar difficulties.

You may have noticed that you have a tendency to ejaculate too quickly or too soon which is frustrating for both of you. Your partner may have noticed this as well and has discussed it with you in order to find a solution.

Speak to your GP

The issue is what to do about it. Do you speak to your GP about this or decide to leave it in the hope that it will resolve itself?

That decision is for you and your partner to make. We understand that it is not an easy thing to discuss and that the thought of talking about premature ejaculation with your GP is awkward and embarrassing.

Many men avoid visiting their GP due to embarrassment but rest assured that he/she (you may prefer to see a male doctor) will deal with your condition in a sympathetic and understanding manner. This is a common condition among men so do not feel as if you are the only one.

It is important that you are frank and honest with your GP and discuss all aspects of your condition. You may be reluctant to talk about your sex life but it is important that you do so as this will help your GP to form a diagnosis. The more information you give him the better able he is to do so.

This also means that he can plan an appropriate and effective course of treatment.

Talking to your GP about personal or intimate matters is something which women are often better at than men but remember that your GP is there to help and advise you. A good way of approaching this is to think of it as a few minutes of embarrassment that will result in a lifelong peace of mind.

You may find it easier to take your partner along with you to provide moral support.

Your GP will ask you about your sexual history, current medical history and your premature ejaculation. This will involve questions about the symptoms, how long this has been going on and whether you have retarded or retrograde ejaculation.

He will ask this even though you are consulting him about premature ejaculation so that he can rule these two conditions out.

You will also be asked if you are taking any medication and/or if you have sustained an injury to your pelvic area. There will also be questions about your lifestyle such as how many units of alcohol you consume in a week.

Tests

Your GP will conduct a physical examination which may include a rectal exam to check for signs of an enlarged prostate gland. Blood and urine samples will be collected to check cholesterol, glucose and hormone levels.

Conclusion

The results of these will help your GP to diagnose premature ejaculation and what type.

This will be classed as either primary ejaculation (lifelong) or secondary ejaculation (acquired).

Primary ejaculation is a form of premature ejaculation which has been present as long as you have been sexually active.

Secondary ejaculation is another form of premature ejaculation which has developed for no apparent reason. This has occurred even though you have had normal sexual relations beforehand and no problems with ejaculation. It may have been triggered by an illness, a side effect of medication or a psychological factor.

Find out more about the causes of both types of premature ejaculation: check out our physical causes of premature ejaculation section and our psychological causes of premature ejaculation section.