Premature ejaculation is one of the most common forms of sexual dysfunction and it affects millions worldwide every year. Problems with early ejaculation obvious affect men the most but the condition also affects their sexual partners. Coping with early ejaculation can be frustrating, overwhelming and difficult, particularly for men who are not used to seeking help with their problems. As a result, many men attempt to resolve the problem on their own, thinking they can hide the condition from their wife or girlfriend even though that is rarely the case. As male sexuality has become more commonly and openly discussed, finding ways to effectively treat this condition – along with many other sexual performance issues – has become a hot topic in the field of sexual therapy.

Sex Therapy – A Brief Overview

Sex therapy is, for many, a new option and field of study. Sex therapy uses a variety of different methods to help stimulate and enhance the sexual experience for individuals and couples while, at the same time, attempting to address the underlying causes of sexual dysfunction. Sex therapy has existed in a variety of forms throughout history and various sexual therapeutic practices date back to ancient times in Egypt, India and China. Older forms of sex therapy include the use of aphrodisiacs, herbs and tantric yoga in order to enhance sexual satisfaction and improve strength, stamina and flexibility. In the early 20^th century, many experts, researchers and doctors used these and other methods to help men and women take control of their sex lives and develop deeper, more meaningful and personally satisfying sex lives. Today, sex therapy embraces a number of different methods in order to help patients including those which were practiced thousands of years ago as well as sexual positions and techniques based on cutting edge research.

How Sex Can Treat Sexual Performance

Using sex to treat premature ejaculation may seem counter intuitive but using various sexual positions and techniques can offer men the opportunity to resume their normal levels of sexual activity which can reduce stress and encourages a better long-term treatment for the condition. Premature ejaculation, like many sexual performance issues, can be cause and influenced by stress and anxiety. In fact, stress and anxiety account for many cases and, often, treating these two problems results in an effective long-term cure.

To begin with, many sex therapists speak to the couple together as well as sessions with each person on their own. Working separately and together gives each person the chance to explore their own sexuality and find ways in which they can work together to make the most out of their sex life. When treating premature ejaculation, the focus tends to be on extending foreplay and using techniques like mutual masturbation and specific sexual positions in order to help men regain control of their orgasm and develop ways to improve stamina. Treatment plans vary from person to person but some of the popular methods used in sex therapy include:

• Stop Start Method – This method requires couples to begin having sex as they normally would, starting with foreplay. As the sexual activity continues, when the man begins to feel over stimulated, the entire process is stopped until he has recovered enough to regain a feeling of control.

• Squeeze and Pause – This method asks the female partner to begin stimulating her partner with her hand and, over time, by rubbing his penis against her vulva while manually stimulating him. The male partner lets her know when he begins to feel over stimulated and she stops stimulation and simply squeezes his penis until the moment passes.

• Masturbation – Both of the methods above are designed to be used between a couple but can be adapted so that men can use them while they masturbate. This solo treatment option can be helpful when men first begin the treatment process and as a way to boost their improvement throughout the treatment process.

• Woman on Top – Once a man is able to last longer than 60 to 90 seconds, couples may begin having sex more often. Studies have found that if the woman is on top during sex, it’s easier for her to achieve orgasms more quickly and she can stop movement more easily if her partner tells her he is becoming over stimulated.

Other treatment options for premature ejaculation may include emotional counselling, pharmaceutical support or consultations with nutritionists, fitness experts or consultants from other medical disciplines. Finding and working with a reputable sex therapist can help you find the best treatment plan which incorporates elements to help treat the condition now while laying the framework for a long term solution.