Premature Ejaculation: Exercises and Natural Supplements as Treatment Options
By Dr.Michael A Lonardo, BCDNH, TND,HMD
August 1, 2021
Premature ejaculation is one of the most common sexual dysfunction in men, but it is also the least diagnosed and treated. The shame and lack of knowledge surrounding this topic certainly contribute to this, as well as the lack of medical guidance. There are several alternative medicinal options available in naturopathic medicine.
What is Premature Ejaculation?
There is no clear definition for premature ejaculation; however, the most accepted criteria defined by the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM, 2021) are:
- Ejaculation that always or almost always occurs within 3 minutes of penetration.
- The inability of the patient to delay ejaculation in all or almost all penetrations.
- This situation leads to negative consequences, for instance, sexual intimacy avoidance, frustration, bother, or distress (ISSM, 2021).
Male premature ejaculation is a problem experienced by up to 30%-70% of males in the United States (US) with a 30% prevalence and it can occur at all ages (Deem et al., 2021).
Causes
The most frequent causes for premature ejaculation are:
- Psychological causes: this scope includes some illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders or other conditions such as nervousness and sexual performance anxiety.
- Stress and tiredness.
- Relationship/interpersonal problems.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Suspension of certain drugs or taking recreational drugs.
- Prostatitis or hyperthyroidism (Gillman & Gillman, 2019).
Signs and Symptoms
When evaluating a male with premature ejaculation, it is important to assess his state of mind, everyday tiredness, stress, and his family life. The most common signs and symptoms depend on the underlying cause of premature ejaculation. Thus, there are multiple signs such as:
- Erections of short duration or little stiffness.
- Insomnia, bad mood, stress, and tiredness.
- Weight loss and tremor.
- Sexual dysfunctions of the partner such as pain during intercourse (dyspareunia).
- Chronic pelvic pain (chronic prostatitis)
- Recurrent urinary infections.
- Loss of sexual desire among others (Ventus et al., 2017).
Treatment
In naturopathy, medical care plans are tailored according to the holistic needs of a person. Hence, the treatment options vary but follow the principles of naturopathic medicine. The treatment of premature ejaculation aims to control or delay ejaculation through therapeutic solutions that prolong and make the sexual act more satisfying. Other than the medication option, there are several natural options techniques that help prevent premature ejaculation, which include exercise, supplements, and psychotherapy (Rowland et al., 2014).
Psychotherapy
In the case of psychological problems being the cause of premature ejaculation, psychotherapy is important in the treatment process, as suggested by Althof (2016). Additionally, all patients must receive psychosexual education that includes an explanation of the pathology, its frequency, reassurance, and breakdown of intimacy barriers. Specific psychosexual therapy directed at phobias, sexual disorders, changes in the interpersonal relationship, anxiety disorders, depression, and other issues helps in addressing the problem of premature ejaculation.
Exercises
One of the most effective exercises for premature ejaculation is the Kegel exercise according to Jiang et al. (2020), which is the practice of contraction and relaxation of the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which are the group of muscles in the pelvic region and around the urethra. When these muscles get stronger, a man may be able to better control ejaculation (Siegel, 2014).
Vlaicu and Delcea (2020) proposed that the "Start-stop” technique is another effective exercise in which the male should temporarily suspend sexual activity in moments of the greatest excitement. Exerting pressure on the glans (penis head) before ejaculation triggers a physiological reflex that inhibits the sensation of pleasure and reduces the likelihood of ejaculation. In addition, penis sensitivity can also be reduced by using a condom or topical anesthetic cream (lidocaine-prilocaine) to prolong the time of ejaculation (Boeri et al., 2021).
Herbal Medication
Herbs help to delay and prolong ejaculation time, which increases the time of the sexual process. The best herbs for the treatment of premature ejaculation are:
Asparagus Adscendens
Asparagus promotes sexual health not only for men but also for women. A study by Pareek and Vidyapati (2017) proposed that Asparagus adscendens roots are effective for premature ejaculation. It can be consumed alone or included in meals. In addition, Pahwa and Goel (2019) stated that it acts as an antidepressant, which is also a cause of experiencing premature ejaculation.
Tamarind Seed
Tamarindus indica is a medicinal plant having antioxidant properties. It is used in medicine, food industries, and food products. A randomized controlled trial by Homayuonfar et al. (2018) showed that tamarind seed powder improved intravaginal ejaculatory latency time significantly as compared to placebo, showing its effectiveness to manage premature ejaculation.
Ginseng
Ginseng is one of the most effective herbs for the treatment of premature ejaculation. The ginseng plant helps to increase sexual desire in women and strengthens the erection of the male penis. A study by Choi et al. (2013) showed improvement in the international index of premature ejaculation after taking e Korean ginseng berry orally. Ginseng can also be used as a topical cream on the penis one hour before intercourse begins, which helps to delay and slow down ejaculation.
Nutrition
Being aware of the presence of some necessary elements such as zinc and magnesium in the diet helps to promote sexual health and control premature ejaculation (Cai et al., 2016), so it is recommended to consume foods that contain these elements such as oysters, pumpkin, soy, almonds, spinach, garlic, beans, dark chocolate (Brito, 2020).
Conclusion
Premature ejaculation is a common sexual disorder in men. Although there are many reasons for premature ejaculation, most of them are related to psychological issues. An individual experiencing premature ejaculation should always consult with a physician or naturopathic doctor before starting any kind of treatment. In naturopathy, a holistic approach is used with the natural treatment options to treat premature ejaculation. It can be treated with specific exercises, a healthy/balanced diet, herbs, and psychotherapy.