Premature Ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is a common sexual difficulty for men is not being able to control when they ejaculate (have an orgasm or ‘come‘). Premature ejaculation means ejaculating within a few seconds of penetration. Some men may ejaculate in response to only a slight touch, or just by thinking about sex.
It is a serious and very common issue for most men worldwide. Premature ejaculation can have causes that aren’t due to underlying disease. Examples include individual variation or sexual inexperience. I have had a few exes that have dealt with this underlying issue, and even though it may seem embarrassing and humiliating to them they had to deal with it head on.
There are self treatments that a man can do to ease this issue and last longer. Using an over-the-counter lidocaine spray that contains a numbing agent may help prevent premature ejaculation. Practicing stopping intercourse before ejaculation and then resuming may also help. Premature ejaculation is orgasm and emission of semen occurring just before or shortly after beginning sexual intercourse.
Common causes of Premature ejaculation
There are psychological or emotional components to Premature Ejaculation, but there are also other factors that contribute to it.
Some psychological components may be temporary. For example, a person may have experienced Premature Ejaculation during early sexual experiences, but as they grew older and had more sexual encounters, they learned strategies to help delay ejaculation.
Likewise, Premature Ejaculation may become an issue as a person gets older and has more trouble maintaining an erection.
Premature Ejaculation may be caused by underlying conditions or mental health concerns too, including:
- poor body image or poor self-esteem
- depression
- history of sexual abuse, either as the perpetrator, or as the victim or survivor
Guilt may also cause you to rush through sexual encounters, which can lead to Premature Ejaculation.
Other things that can lead to Premature Ejaculation include:
- worrying about ejaculating too early
- anxiety about limited sexual experience
- problems or dissatisfaction in your current relationship
- stress
Physical causes can also play a major role in Premature Ejaculation. If you have difficulty maintaining an erection because of ED, you may rush through intercourse so that you complete it before losing the erection.
Abnormal levels of certain hormones, such as testosterone, or chemicals produced by nerve cells called neurotransmitters may contribute to Premature Ejaculation. Inflammation of the prostate or urethra can also cause numerous symptoms, including Premature Ejaculation and ED
Herpes zoster
Genital Herpes is a commonly known sexually transmitted disease, which makes up of three quarters of Australians. This STI is caused by the herpes simplex virus, also known as HSV. There are two types of HSV. HSV1 is normally found around the mouth area, which comes in the forms of what people may know as cold sores. HSV2 is normally found around one’s private areas (This virus affects the external genitalia, anal region, mucosal surfaces, and skin in other parts of the body), however, both can be found in either locations, and it is possible for someone to be infected with both HSV1 and HSV2. Women in Australia have been found to be infected with HSV2 more so than men.
The virus enters the body through one’s mouth or private areas and lives in nerves found under the skin. Someone can have herpes for many years without ever knowing they have it due to the lack of active symptoms.
Causes of Herpes zoster
Herpes infections are caused by herpes simplex viruses, which enter through the skin and travel to the nerves, where they generally do not cause problems. Herpes can cause skin sores, however, when the viruses become active. A human cannot become infected with HSV by touching an object, work surface, washbasin, or towel that has been touched by an infected person. Infection can occur in the following ways:
- having unprotected vaginal or anal sex
- having oral sex with a person who gets cold sores
- sharing sex toys
- having genital contact with an infected person
The virus is most likely to be passed on just before the blister appears, when it is visible, and until the blister is completely healed. HSV can still be transmitted to another person when there are no signs of an outbreak, although it is less likely.
Symptoms
Symptoms include blisters, ulcers, pain when urinating, cold sores, and vaginal discharge. Although there is no cure for herpes, it can be treated using medications and home remedies.
Most people do not experience symptoms for months or years after becoming infected. Those who do have symptoms during the initial period will usually notice them about 4 days after exposure (the average range is 2-12 days).
Many people with HSV have recurring herpes. When a person is first infected, the recurrences tend to happen more frequently. Over time, however, the remission periods get longer, and each occurrence tends to become less severe.
Treatment for Herpes zoster
At this time there is no cure for herpes, but medication (such as acyclovir) can be taken to shorten the length of time that a flare up would take, or even lessen the symptoms. Antivirals do not eradicate the virus, but does lessen the amount of virus meaning that future outbreaks are minimum and even if one was to occur the severity of it would be mild. Avoiding soap, keeping the area dry, and wearing loose fitting clothing are ways to manage an outbreak before it occurs or during. Extra precautions can be taken if one has an outbreak.
Prevention tips
To reduce the risk of developing or passing on genital herpes:
- use condoms when having sex
- do not have sex while symptoms are present (genital, anal, or skin-to-skin)
- do not kiss when there is a cold sore around the mouth
- do not have many sexual partners
Some people find that stress, being tired, illness, friction against the skin, or sunbathing may trigger recurrences of symptoms. Identifying and avoiding these triggers may help reduce the number of recurrences.
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