When people talk about premature ejaculation they almost exclusively discuss it in relation to men. Few – if any – experts step forward to discuss the problem as it relates to women except to talk about what female partners of men can do in the situation. Does that mean early ejaculation never happens to women?

The fact is women can and do experience this problem but they are encouraged to come forward and talk about it. Women are generally seen as being “lucky” in that they can and often do experience more than one orgasm in a sexual encounter and they’re encouraged to essentially have as many as they can. But for some women that simply isn’t an option and for a handful of those, climaxing too quickly has become a problem they feel they can’t talk about.

The truth is that premature ejaculation can happen to anyone no matter what their gender or sexual orientation. Women who climax sooner than they would like can have problems continuing with sex and may find they can’t stay lubricated or aroused enough to make sex enjoyable. But they also feel as though they can’t tell their partner to stop which makes them not only uncomfortable, but can drive a wedge between the two people.

Female early ejaculation is virtually non-existent in medical literature and only a few studies can be found on the topic. One of the most often cited was conducted in 2011 and studied 510 women asking them a number of questions about their sex lives, including whether or not they ever felt as though they climaxed too quickly. Of those women, 40% reported they had climaxed sooner than they would have liked at least once in their lives and 14% reported that premature ejaculation happened frequently. This is, of course, much less than the percent of men who report the same, but it still highlights a problem in female sexuality – and one in which men may be able to help.

Men are much more likely to experience this problem with the vast majority of 3 men reporting to have experienced the problem and a full 30% of men who are thought to deal with it on a regular basis. As a result, plenty of guys are armchair experts on the condition and have tried everything from a change in diet to the off-label use of medication in order to treat it effectively.

With little understanding of how the condition works in women, treatment options are depressingly bleak for those who do eventually summon up the courage to ask for help. Instead, more and more women are turning to men and male-centric resources, to find an answer. In that regard, hope has been found.

The truth is that sexuality – both for men and women – is often more complicated than it seems. But, still, many of the Do-It-Yourself treatment options men have come to rely on over the years work just as well for women as they do for men. Positive and healthy changes in diet and physical fitness always top the list as ways to handle the condition and many women do find that helps to mitigate the symptoms of the condition. The same holds true for changing sexual positions and trying different things in order to avoid over-stimulation. Perhaps the worst problem women need to overcome is also the one many men have trouble with – openly discussing the issue with their partner.

Premature ejaculation is difficult to discuss even under the best of circumstances and can be hard to deal with no matter what. But, for women, the added stigma makes them feel increasingly isolated and alone. The irony, of course, is that the person most likely to understand and have the advice, information and insight that could make the difference is the man in her life – it’s time to open those channels of communication, move past the awkward beginning and start talking.