Premature Ejaculation Treatment: 7 Techniques That Work

Premature ejaculation is treatable. The approaches with the strongest evidence are behavioural techniques such as stop-start and squeeze, pelvic floor muscle training, psychological support, and medication prescribed by a doctor where it is clinically appropriate. Treatment is successful in 30 to 70 per cent of cases, according to Healthy Male, Australia's national men's health organisation.

It is also common. Between 1 in 3 and 1 in 5 Australian men aged 18 to 59 experience premature ejaculation, which makes it the most common sexual problem affecting men. This guide covers seven techniques with genuine evidence behind them, what the research shows, and when to involve a doctor.

What counts as premature ejaculation?

Healthdirect describes premature ejaculation as ejaculating sooner than you or your partner would like, usually within one minute of penetration, with little sense of control.

Doctors separate it into two types (MyDr). Lifelong premature ejaculation has been present since your first sexual experiences, usually with ejaculation before or within about one minute of penetration. Acquired premature ejaculation develops later, after a period of normal control, with the time to ejaculation often dropping to about three minutes or less.

The stopwatch is not the whole story. Plenty of men who last two or three minutes still feel their control is poor. If timing bothers you or is straining your relationship, it is worth addressing whether or not you meet the formal definition.

What causes it?

There is rarely one cause. Research summarised by Healthy Male points to a mix of factors: genetic differences in the nerve signalling that coordinates ejaculation, levels of the brain chemical serotonin, psychological pressures such as anxiety, stress and relationship problems, and other health issues including abnormal hormone levels.

The overlap with erection problems matters too. About 1 in 3 to 1 in 4 men with premature ejaculation also have trouble getting or keeping an erection. Some men rush to finish before losing their erection, which looks like premature ejaculation but needs different treatment. If that sounds familiar, our guide to erectile dysfunction is a good place to start, and mention it when you speak with a doctor.

1. The stop-start technique

Stimulate the penis until you feel close to climax, then stop completely until the sensation fades. Repeat this three or four times before allowing ejaculation. Both Healthy Male and the Better Health Channel list it among the standard behavioural treatments.

Practise on your own first so you learn your point of no return without pressure, then bring your partner in. Tell them what you are doing and why. Most men need weeks of consistent practice before the control carries over to sex, and progress differs from person to person.

2. The squeeze technique

A variation on stop-start. When you are close to climax, you or your partner squeezes the head of the penis firmly for several seconds until the urge passes, then you resume. Sex therapists have used it for decades and it appears in the same Australian guidance as stop-start.

Some couples find the interruption awkward. If it kills the mood, stick with stop-start during sex and use the squeeze during solo practice instead.

3. Pelvic floor muscle training

Your pelvic floor muscles help control ejaculation, and they can be trained like any other muscle. To find them, stop your urine flow midstream once. Those are the muscles. Use that trick only to locate them, not as a regular exercise.

A commonly used routine looks like this. Squeeze for three seconds, relax for three seconds, ten times in a row, three times a day. Build towards ten-second holds over a couple of months.

The evidence is encouraging. In a 12-week trial at Sapienza University of Rome, 33 of 40 men with lifelong premature ejaculation improved with pelvic floor exercises, and average time to ejaculation rose from 31.7 seconds to 146.2 seconds (European Association of Urology, 2014). It was a small study, but the exercises are free, safe and take a few minutes a day.

4. Slow breathing and attention training

Anxiety speeds everything up. Racing thoughts and a pounding heart push the body towards climax faster, which is why performance anxiety and premature ejaculation tend to feed each other.

Slow, deep breathing during sex helps some men stay calmer and more aware of their arousal, which makes techniques like stop-start easier to time. Healthdirect lists relaxation and slowing down among its self-help measures. The evidence here is thinner than for the techniques above, but it costs nothing and supports everything else you try.

5. Practical adjustments

Healthdirect and Healthy Male both suggest simple measures that lower sensitivity or arousal in the short term. Masturbating an hour or two before sex reduces sensitivity the second time around. Condoms dull sensation slightly, and thicker varieties more so. Changing positions, slowing your movement and taking breaks during foreplay all buy time as well.

Treat these as stopgaps rather than treatments. They are useful while the longer-term techniques take effect. Our guide to natural ways to last longer in bed covers these in more detail.

6. Psychological support and sex therapy

When anxiety, stress, depression or relationship tension is driving the problem, a psychologist or accredited sex therapist can address it directly. Cognitive behavioural therapy targets the thought patterns that keep the anxiety loop running, and couples counselling helps where the condition has become a source of conflict.

Involving your partner usually makes any treatment path easier. If you are not sure how to raise the subject, we have written a guide on how to talk to your partner about PE treatment.

7. Medical treatment through a doctor

If behavioural techniques have not shifted things after eight to twelve weeks, or the problem is severe, medication may have a role. Two categories appear in Australian clinical guidance (Healthdirect; MyDr). Certain antidepressants, a class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, delay ejaculation as a side effect, and doctors sometimes use them for this purpose. Local anaesthetic sprays or creams reduce penile sensitivity when applied before sex; some are sold over the counter, and it is sensible to ask a pharmacist or doctor before using one.

These options suit some men and not others, and all medicines carry potential side effects. A registered doctor needs to assess your health and history first, and will only prescribe where it is clinically appropriate. That is how Menova's doctors work, and we encourage you to keep your regular GP informed as well.

Being realistic about progress

Behavioural techniques take repetition. The pelvic floor trial above ran for 12 weeks, and Australian guidance puts overall treatment success at 30 to 70 per cent, so improvement is likely but never guaranteed, and it is rarely instant. Responses vary between individuals, and setbacks along the way are normal.

Combining approaches tends to beat relying on one. A sensible mix is pelvic floor training daily, stop-start during solo practice, and breathing plus the practical adjustments during sex.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment if premature ejaculation happens regularly and distresses you, has not improved after two to three months of consistent practice, started suddenly, or comes with erection problems or pain. You can see your GP or use a telehealth service. Either way, be direct about it. Doctors manage this condition all the time.

How Menova Health can help

Menova Health provides doctor-led premature ejaculation treatment for Australian men via telehealth. The process starts with an online assessment, followed by a private consultation with a registered Australian doctor who reviews your health and history. Treatment is only recommended where it is clinically appropriate, and not everyone will be suitable. To see what the process involves step by step, read our first-time PE treatment guide.

Telehealth works alongside your usual care, not instead of it. We encourage every patient to keep their regular GP in the loop.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I have premature ejaculation?

The usual definition is regularly ejaculating within about one minute of penetration, feeling unable to delay it, and being distressed by it. Many men with slightly longer times still want better control, and the same techniques apply. A doctor can help work out what is going on.

Do pelvic floor exercises really work for premature ejaculation?

They can. In a 12-week trial of 40 men with lifelong premature ejaculation, 82.5 per cent improved and average time to ejaculation rose from about 32 seconds to 146 seconds. It was a small study, but the exercises are free, safe and easy to do daily.

Does premature ejaculation go away on its own?

Sometimes, especially when it is tied to a stressful patch or a new relationship. Lifelong premature ejaculation rarely improves without treatment. Australian guidance puts overall treatment success at 30 to 70 per cent, and combining behavioural, psychological and medical approaches tends to work best. Responses vary between individuals.

Is premature ejaculation linked to erectile dysfunction?

They often occur together. About 1 in 3 to 1 in 4 men with premature ejaculation also have trouble getting or keeping an erection. Rushing to climax before losing an erection can also mimic premature ejaculation, so doctors usually assess and manage the erection problem first.

Are there prescription treatments for premature ejaculation in Australia?

Yes. A doctor may consider certain antidepressants that delay ejaculation as a side effect, or local anaesthetic products that reduce sensitivity. These are only used after a consultation, where a registered doctor decides whether they are appropriate for you. They suit some men and not others.

Does masturbating before sex actually help?

It can in the short term. Ejaculating an hour or two beforehand reduces sensitivity the second time around. Healthdirect also suggests condoms, slower movement and position changes. Treat these as stopgaps while behavioural techniques and pelvic floor training build longer-term control.

When should I see a doctor about premature ejaculation?

See a doctor if it happens regularly and distresses you, has not improved after two to three months of consistent technique practice, started suddenly, or occurs alongside erection problems or pain. It is a common condition that GPs and telehealth doctors manage routinely.

References

• Healthy Male, Premature ejaculation: causes and treatment (accessed July 2026)
• Healthdirect Australia, Premature ejaculation (accessed July 2026)
• Better Health Channel, Victorian Department of Health, Premature ejaculation (accessed July 2026)
• MyDr, Premature ejaculation (accessed July 2026)
• European Association of Urology, 2014, Lifelong premature ejaculation can be treated by pelvic floor exercises (accessed July 2026)