It's no secret that there are many benefits to sex.
From relieving stress to feeling good to helping you sleep – there are many good things about getting frisky now and then. Perhaps that's why it's surprising that many men take part in "No Nut November" – a challenge which emerged in 2011.
The idea was that abstaining from sex and masturbation would have mental and physical benefits such as increasing libido, helping focus, increasing testosterone and preventing premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. But, according to doctor Alexis Missick, one of the erectile dysfunction specialists at pharmaceutical company UK Meds, it could actually do more harm than good.
READ MORE: 'We're a couple but live separately – we still meet in the laundry room to bonk'
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She said: "Masturbation actually has beneficial effects on testosterone levels and libido, almost like a positive advocate loop. By masturbating, it can delay the time to ejaculation, almost like building stamina and routine.
"It can also reduce some of the psychological issues such as low self-esteem and performance anxiety, that would increase the chance of erectile dysfunction. The reverse in true – refraining from masturbating could worsen premature ejaculation and indirectly erectile dysfunction."
So, what is actually causing premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction? Dr Alexis opened up about what you need to know.
What causes premature ejaculation?
The causes of premature ejaculation are varied and differ from one man to another. Sometimes the condition is lifelong, and other times it’s acquired.
Lifelong premature ejaculation normally begins in puberty and becomes somewhat of a learned habit. A man may finish quickly due to conditioning himself to do so to avoid being caught masturbating when he’s young, which is then difficult to unlearn.
It can also be caused by more serious issues, such as sexual childhood trauma or seeing sex as taboo (maybe due to cultural or religious reasons). Because lifelong premature ejaculation can be so ingrained into a man’s mind, treatment can often include counselling or other CBT methods to get to the route of the problem.
However, lifelong premature ejaculation is not nearly as common as acquired premature ejaculation. This means that the condition has developed (somewhere between adolescence and the present), and this can be for a large variety of reasons.
Sometimes a man may notice himself finishing quicker with a new or casual partner, possibly due to performance anxiety. This can then become a recurring problem because the more you worry about finishing too quickly, the more likely it can be. Sometimes, one embarrassing sexual encounter can trigger the problem.
Even with a long-term, established partner, you may suddenly notice premature ejaculation becoming an issue. This may be due to stress, mental health problems or problems within the relationship itself.
Occasionally, physical health conditions can also contribute to premature ejaculation, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and MS.
How do I know if I have premature ejaculation?
There’s no rulebook that dictates how long sex should last. Just like with style, speed, position and other elements, the duration is a very personal preference and something for you and your partner to work out together.
One couple may regularly enjoy a lengthy session, whereas others may prefer something quicker. Because there’s no exact time that sex should last, there’s also no exact definition for premature ejaculation.
A study looking at 500 couples from five different countries found the average time taken to ejaculate during intercourse was around five-and-a-half minutes. But if you’re a man who is having sex with a woman who would prefer sex to last 15 minutes, then you may feel like you’re finishing too quickly.
It’s all about how the timing is making you and your partner feel. However, if you’re lasting less than two minutes, or are ejaculating before entering your partner, then it’s likely that you are experiencing premature ejaculation and you may wish to try and do something to lengthen the time taken.
There are a number of ways to tackle premature ejaculation. You may benefit from psychological help to get to the cause of the issue, but there are also topical and oral medications and products that can help.
Reducing sensitivity in the penis can help to increase the time it takes to ejaculate. This could be done by wearing thick condoms or by using a topical product containing lidocaine, such as Emla cream or Stud 100.
A highly effective medicine for premature ejaculation is Priligy, which is a tablet used to give you better control over your ejaculation and to help you last longer.
Does masturbation cause erectile dysfunction?
You may have heard that masturbation causes erectile dysfunction. Is this a myth, or real? Fortunately, there is no evidence that masturbation can cause ED. In fact, there are many benefits associated with masturbation.
At some point, nearly all men have a problem getting an erection. If this problem persists or happens often, it is called erectile dysfunction. You can discover more about the causes of ED below.
When young men suffer from ED
Typically, when a younger man is unable to achieve an erection, the cause may be associated with the following psychological or emotional factors. (These factors can apply to older men as well.)
being stressed (with relationships or work)
having anxiety
being depressed or having post-traumatic stress disorder
having bipolar disorder
being overweight
having insomnia or lacking sleep
urinary tract infection
performance anxiety
spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida
How to treat erectile dysfunction
Addressing the conditions listed above may improve a man's ability to have an erection. In younger men, avoiding stress and getting proper sleep may be all that is necessary to experience normal erections again.
In older men, there may be underlying conditions that make it difficult to have an erection without the use of medication.
Masturbation does not cause erectile dysfunction. The culprit is likely to be age, diabetes, being overweight or any of the other conditions listed above. If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, there are ED medications that can help you achieve an erection long enough to have sex.
Similarly, masturbation is not likely to cause premature ejaculation. Instead, masturbating can delay the time to ejaculation.
You may benefit from psychological help to get to the cause of the issue if you are suffering. But there are also topical and oral medications and products that can help.
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