Is premature ejaculation genetic? Lifelong vs acquired PE and the 4 types
The studies and sources we used are listed at the end. Not reviewed by a doctor. Editorial policy
Has it always been this way, or did it start at some point? When PE began changes how to think about it and who to talk to. Here is what the research says about how much of it you are born with.
There are two main kinds of premature ejaculation: lifelong PE, present from the start and largely down to your constitution, and acquired PE, which began later and usually has a later cause. A twin study found genes explain about 28% of the differences between men; the rest comes from experience and environment. In one large survey, the most common type among men who said they finish too fast was variable PE, which only happens sometimes.
Contents
Born with it or acquired: which is more common?
The honest answer is that it depends on the man. The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) splits PE into two types by when it started:
- Lifelong PE: since your first sexual experiences, ejaculation has come within about a minute almost every time. Your constitution is thought to play a part.
- Acquired PE: things used to be fine, but at some point ejaculation began coming within about 3 minutes. It is more often linked to something that came later, such as ED, an illness or stress.
One survey looked at how common each type actually is.
- Found
- Lifelong PE 2.3%, acquired PE 3.9%, variable PE (only sometimes) 8.5%, subjective PE (time not short, but distressing) 5.1%
- Caveat
- A survey in Turkey; the same rates may not apply to men elsewhere
So many men who feel they are "too fast" do not have the inborn, lifelong type. Their timing changes with the situation.
How much do genes matter?
- Method
- Compared identical and non-identical twins on questionnaire answers about time to ejaculation and sense of control
- Found
- About 28% of the differences between men in PE tendencies could be explained by genes
- Caveat
- Questionnaire answers, not a diagnosis by a doctor
About 28% does not mean that "30% of PE is genetic". It means that of the differences between men, roughly that share can be explained by genes. The other 70% or so is down to experience, environment and how your body is at the time.
A Dutch study looked at a gene linked to serotonin, a messenger chemical in the brain. In 89 men with lifelong PE, time to ejaculation differed about twofold depending on which version of the gene they had (Janssen et al., 2009). But men with and without PE had the gene versions in similar proportions. No single gene decides whether you have PE.
How to tell the 4 types apart
See which row sounds most like you. It is a rough guide, not a diagnosis.
| Type | Since when | Typical situation |
|---|---|---|
| Lifelong | Your first sexual experiences | Almost always about a minute after penetration, whoever the partner and whatever the situation |
| Acquired | A point in time | It used to be fine. Sometimes comes with weaker erections or discomfort when urinating |
| Variable | Now and then | Faster after a long break, with a new partner or when tired |
| Subjective | No clear start | Lasts several minutes or more, but you feel you are fast and it worries you |
Variable PE is thought to be something that can happen to any man depending on the situation. With subjective PE, some men feel better simply by knowing that the median time in a five-country stopwatch survey was 5.4 minutes, with a very wide range.
Causes to consider if it started later
Acquired PE can have another cause behind it. These are the ones most often mentioned:
- ED: rushing to finish "before it goes soft". If you are unsure about the firmness of your erections, it may make sense to talk about ED first.
- Prostate inflammation: pain or discomfort when urinating, or feeling you have not fully emptied your bladder.
- Thyroid disease: a racing heart, sweating easily, weight loss.
- Stress and relationships: when the change lines up with changes at work or with your partner.
What you can do, by type
For lifelong PE, an Italian study reported that 33 of 40 men could control ejaculation after 12 weeks of pelvic floor training (Pastore et al., 2014; there was no comparison group). Doctors can also discuss options such as tablets.
For acquired PE, finding the underlying cause comes first. For variable and subjective PE, practicing the start-stop technique and talking with your partner can help some men.
The free 1-minute Kegel timer lets you practice the muscles involved in ejaculation control right now.
When to see a doctor
See a urologist or men's health clinic if it suddenly got faster at some point, if you also have trouble with erections or discomfort when urinating, or if it keeps bothering you. Whether it is lifelong or acquired is one of the first things a doctor will want to know, so it helps to jot down when it started and in which situations it happens.
FAQ
Is premature ejaculation something you are born with?
It depends. Lifelong PE, present since your first sexual experiences, is thought to involve your constitution and genes. Acquired PE, which started after a time without problems, is more often linked to something that came later, such as ED, prostate inflammation or stress.
Is premature ejaculation hereditary?
A study of 1,196 Finnish male twins (Jern et al., 2007) reported that genes could explain about 28% of the differences between men in PE tendencies. The rest came from environment and experience, so it does not mean a son will have PE because his father did.
How many types of PE are there?
The international definition has two: lifelong and acquired. Some researchers add two more: variable PE, where it only happens sometimes, and subjective PE, where the time is not short but you feel it is and it bothers you. In a Turkish survey (Serefoglu et al., 2011), variable PE was the most common among men who reported finishing too quickly.
Can I do anything about PE on my own?
Self-help methods that have been studied include pelvic floor training, aerobic exercise such as running, and the start-stop technique. The studies are small and results differ from man to man. If it keeps bothering you, or it started suddenly, talk to a urologist or your doctor.
References
- Serefoglu EC, et al. An evidence-based unified definition of lifelong and acquired premature ejaculation: report of the second International Society for Sexual Medicine Ad Hoc Committee for the Definition of Premature Ejaculation. J Sex Med. 2014;11(6):1423-1441. repub.eur.nl/pub/74335
- Jern P, et al. Premature and delayed ejaculation: genetic and environmental effects in a population-based sample of Finnish twins. J Sex Med. 2007;4(6):1739-1749. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17888070/
- Janssen PKC, et al. Serotonin transporter promoter region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism is associated with the intravaginal ejaculation latency time in Dutch men with lifelong premature ejaculation. J Sex Med. 2009;6(1):276-284. cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/serotonin-trans
- Serefoglu EC, et al. Prevalence of the complaint of ejaculating prematurely and the four premature ejaculation syndromes: results from the Turkish Society of Andrology Sexual Health Survey. J Sex Med. 2011;8(2):540-548. academic.oup.com/jsm/article/8/2/540/6844383
- Pastore AL, et al. Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation for patients with lifelong premature ejaculation: a novel therapeutic approach. Ther Adv Urol. 2014;6(3):83-88. doaj.org/article/aea4980b10dd4dd791f1f3168656deb5