Treating delayed ejaculation

Sex therapy

Sex therapy is a form of counselling that uses a combination of psychotherapy and structured changes in your sex life. This can help to increase your feeling of enjoyment during sex, and help make ejaculation easier.

Some clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) provide a sex therapy service on the NHS. Availability can vary widely depending on where you live.

You can also pay privately. Prices per session are around 50 to 80. The College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists website provides information about private sex therapists and how to find a therapist in your local area .

The relationship counselling service Relate also offers sex therapy at a number of its centres.Youll need to pay for each session.

During sex therapy, youll have the opportunity to discuss any emotional or psychological issues related to your sexuality and relationship, in a non-judgemental way.

Activities may also be recommended for you to try at home while you're having sex with your partner (you should never be asked to take part in any sexual activities during a session with the therapist).

These may include:

  • viewing erotic videos and magazines before having sex to increase the feeling of stimulation
  • erotic fantasies and "sex games" to make your lovemaking more exciting
  • using lubricating creams, or jellies, to make the physical act of sex more comfortable and relaxing
  • using sexual aids, such as vibrators, to increase pleasure

These include:

  • amantadine originally designed to treat viral infections
  • buproprion usually prescribed to help people quit smoking
  • yohimbine originally designed to treat erectile dysfunction

These help block some of the chemical effects of SSRIs that may contribute towards delayed ejaculation.

Alcohol and drugs

Alcohol misuse and drug use can be separate underlying causes of delayed ejaculation, so addressing these problems may help.

This means the medicine shows promise in treatingdelayed ejaculationbut it hasn't been licensed for this particular use (pseudoephedrineis normally used as a decongestant).

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018