Treatment for premature ejaculation has often focused on a variety of herbs and control devices in order to delay orgasm. These measures help to alleviate the symptoms while deeper treatment is pursued to deal with the underlying cause. This two-prong approach takes time, effort and a great deal of patience. So when doctors began to realize that some medications could be used off-label to treat the condition, plenty of men were willing to give it a try. But is popping pills really the best way to treat this condition?

Treating the Symptoms, Not the Cause

Any pill that focuses on delaying orgasm is treating the symptom of early ejaculation, not the cause of it. That’s true for pharmaceutical pills as well as herbal supplements and even rings and delay creams that are used to prevent orgasm. To a certain extent, there’s nothing wrong with treating the symptoms head on. It’s the same approach we take when we have a cold. The underlying virus that causes the symptoms needs to run its course and there’s little – if anything – we can do about it. So instead we focus on treating the coughing, sneezing, runny nose, high temperature and other uncomfortable symptoms until the virus in done.

While that treatment works fine for a cold, the same approach doesn’t work so well when it comes to early ejaculation. Treating only the symptoms ignores the cause which means men will never truly be free of the condition and, depending on the treatment they choose, they could end up with more than they bargained for.

Serious Drugs, Serious Side Effects

Currently there are no pharmaceuticals which have been developed and approved specifically for treating premature ejaculation.  There are, however, a number of drugs which have been found to be effective in delaying orgasm. Anti-depressants and drugs for erectile dysfunction have been found to be effective in delaying orgasm and so have been increasingly prescribed “off-label” to help men dealing with early ejaculation.

While these drugs have been effective in delaying or inhibiting orgasm, they also come with a number of unsavory side effects. Common side effects from many of the drugs used include nausea, weight gain, fatigue, dry mouth and, ironically, the loss of sexual libido. These side effects can make sex unappealing and may actually contribute to feelings of depression in patients. Coming off these drugs can be troublesome as well and patients typically need to be weaned off them instead of stopping cold turkey.

Herbal medications or orgasm delaying devices, on the other hand, don’t come with all that trouble. They are, however, not always as reliable. Cock rings can be hard to get used to and herbal supplements don’t have the intensity of pharmaceutical grade drugs. In many cases, it’s a question of finding the right device, cream or supplement that works with a man’s specific physiology. But that takes time, and many men are simply tired of trying different supplements or dietary changes when pharmaceutical help is at hand. In the end, it’s up to each man individually to work with his doctor to find the right combination of treatments – pharmaceutical or otherwise – that will have the greatest chance of success.

Dealing with the symptoms of early ejaculation is still an important part of a successful treatment plan. While herbal and topical methods may not offer the same results as pharmaceuticals they don’t come with all the side effects and potential for greater problems. While there are men with chronic conditions that merit such extreme measures, men should always be open to exploring more natural methods under the care of their doctor in order to simplify the treatment process and increase their chances for long term success.