What is premature ejaculation? How many minutes, the average time, 2 types and causes
The studies and sources we used are listed at the end. Not reviewed by a doctor. Editorial policy
Many men wonder whether they finish too fast, but few know where the line actually is. The international definition looks at more than the clock: whether you can delay ejaculation, and whether it bothers you.
The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) defines premature ejaculation as ejaculating within about 1 minute of penetration (lifelong PE, present from the start) or about 3 minutes (acquired PE, which began later), being unable to delay it almost every time, and feeling distress about it. In a five-country stopwatch survey, the median time from penetration to ejaculation was 5.4 minutes, with a very wide range between men.
Contents
How premature ejaculation is defined
There are several definitions of premature ejaculation (PE), but the one most often used is the 2014 definition from the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM). PE means all three of the following:
- Time: ejaculation within about 1 minute of penetration (lifelong), or a drop to about 3 minutes or less (acquired)
- Control: being unable to delay ejaculation on every or nearly every occasion
- Distress: feeling frustrated or upset about it, or avoiding sex because of it
So if the time is a little short but neither you nor your partner minds, it is not necessarily something to treat. And if the time is longer than the definition but it worries you, you can still talk to a doctor about it.
What is the average time?
- Method
- For 4 weeks, couples timed each act of intercourse from penetration to ejaculation with a stopwatch
- Found
- A median of 5.4 minutes, ranging from under 1 minute to over 30 minutes
- Caveat
- Couples knew they were timing it, which may differ from usual
Being below average is not a disorder in itself. What matters more than the clock is whether you can delay ejaculation and whether it bothers you.
The two types
Lifelong PE
Ejaculation has come very quickly almost every time since your first sexual experiences. It is thought to involve your constitution and how sensitive the nerves that control ejaculation are.
Acquired PE
It started at some point after a time without problems. Worry about losing an erection, prostate inflammation, thyroid disease, stress and relationship problems can all play a part. If it changed suddenly, have a doctor check for an underlying condition.
Causes
PE rarely has a single cause. Mental factors (nerves, anxiety, little experience) and physical factors (sensitivity, how the pelvic floor muscles work, ED or prostate problems) often overlap. In the large PEPA survey of 12,133 men, 22.7% met the criteria for PE, so it is one of the most common sexual concerns men have.
What you can do yourself
These self-help methods have been studied. They are mostly small studies, and the same results are not guaranteed for everyone.
- Pelvic floor training: in an Italian study of 40 men with lifelong PE who trained for 12 weeks (Pastore et al., 2014), 33 reported being able to control ejaculation. The study had no control group.
- Aerobic exercise: in a trial of men with lifelong PE (Kilinc et al., 2018), the group that ran for 30 minutes five times a week had a longer time to ejaculation. It was a small, short trial.
- The start-stop technique: a behavioral method where you stop stimulation when you feel close, wait for the urge to pass, then start again.
Our free 1-minute Kegel timer lets you practice the squeeze right now.
When to see a doctor
See a urologist or men's health clinic if it keeps bothering you, if it suddenly got faster at some point, if you also have trouble getting erections, or if you have pain or discomfort when you urinate. A doctor can discuss options that fit the cause, such as tablets, numbing creams or sprays, behavioral techniques and counseling. Avoid medicines from unlicensed online sellers.
FAQ
How many minutes counts as premature ejaculation?
Under the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) definition, lifelong PE means ejaculating within about 1 minute of penetration nearly every time since your first sexual experiences, and acquired PE means the time has dropped to about 3 minutes or less at some point. Time alone is not enough: being unable to delay ejaculation and being distressed by it are part of the definition too.
What is the average time for men?
In a survey of about 500 couples in five countries who timed sex with a stopwatch (Waldinger et al., 2005), the median time from penetration to ejaculation was 5.4 minutes. It ranged from under a minute to over 30 minutes, so there is no single "normal".
Are there different types of PE?
Yes. Lifelong PE has been there since your first sexual experiences. Acquired PE started later, after a time without problems, and can be linked to ED, prostate inflammation, thyroid disease, stress or relationship problems. If it changed suddenly, see a doctor.
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
- Waldinger MD, et al. A multinational population survey of intravaginal ejaculation latency time. J Sex Med. 2005;2(4):492-497. smsna.org/patients/did-you-know/how-long-does-it-take-the-av
- 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
- Kilinc MF, et al. Impact of physical activity on patient self-reported outcomes of lifelong premature ejaculation patients: results of a prospective, randomised, sham-controlled trial. Andrologia. 2018;50(1):e12799. search.pedro.org.au/search-results/record-detail/52397
- Porst H, et al. The Premature Ejaculation Prevalence and Attitudes (PEPA) survey: prevalence, comorbidities, and professional help-seeking. Eur Urol. 2007;51(3):816-824. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16934919/