Does Premature Ejaculation Cause Infertility?

While PE can cause significant emotional distress for both partners, there has been much debate over whether or not it can cause infertility.

PE (Premature Ejaculation) is a common sexual dysfunction that affects many men. It is characterized by an inability to delay ejaculation, resulting in climaxing too soon during sexual intercourse.

How do you know if you have Premature Ejaculation?

The inability to delay ejaculation all or most of the time could be a sign of premature ejaculation. If a man ejaculates before penetration or less than 2 minutes of penetration all or most of the time, leading to frequent dissatisfaction for him or his partner, he may have premature ejaculation.

Does Premature Ejaculation Have A Direct Impact On Infertility?

Many studies have shown that PE does not have a direct impact on a man’s fertility, as it does not affect the quantity or quality of his semen. However, it may indirectly impact fertility if it leads to psychological stress in the relationship and otherwise, or avoidance of sexual intercourse, which can all affect a couple’s chances of conceiving.

Sperm Quality And Infertility

Infertility in men is solely dependent on the quality of the sperm, which means the problem lies within the sperm itself. But that’s not to say that PE has no role in causing infertility in men. PE is not a direct indicator that there is something wrong with the quality of the sperm, but the fact is that PE makes the process of conceiving a rather difficult task. For example, let’s say you have the healthiest sperm on this planet, but if you ejaculate it before penetration or release insufficient sperm then there is no way of getting your partner pregnant, hence we name it the term ‘infertility’.

So, How Does Premature Ejaculation Affect Fertility?

The only way PE might affect your fertility is that the sperm might not be able to reach the egg. While there are also a few instances if the male manages to ejaculate inside the partner, even with low sexual satisfaction the couple might be able to conceive thus solving the issue of infertility.

But there might also be some instances where the sperm might as well reach the egg, yet the couple is facing issues with infertility. In that case, there is either a problem in the quality of sperm or adequate sperm is not ejaculated during the time of sexual intercourse. Medical advice should be looked out for if that’s the case.

What Are Some Ways To Conceive If You Have PE?

If you’re trying to conceive and have premature ejaculation (PE), there are some positions and ways that can help increase your chances of success, even if some of these may lead to a loss of pleasure

• The woman-on-top position: This position allows the man to have less control over thrusting and can help to delay ejaculation
• The coital alignment technique (CAT): This technique involves the man positioning himself higher up on the woman’s body and using a rocking motion rather than a thrusting motion. This can help to stimulate the woman’s clitoris and increase her chances of orgasm.
• Edging is a method that involves the man bringing himself close to ejaculation, then stopping and waiting for the sensation to subside before continuing. Over time, this can help to increase the man’s control over ejaculation.
• Timing the intercourse with ovulation increases the chances of fertilization and conception.

What Causes Premature Ejaculation?

Physiological And Psychological Factors That May Effect PE

The exact cause of premature ejaculation is still not known, but some experts say that it could be due to an underactive thyroid gland and low levels of serotonin can be a causative factor.

Physiologically, PE may be caused by abnormal hormone levels or neurotransmitters in the brain, or by dysfunction of the muscles and/or nerve damage. Additionally, certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid-related concerns, can also contribute to PE.

Psychologically, PE may be caused by stress, anxiety, depression, or past traumatic sexual encounters. Due to these, the male can be facing a reduction in his sex drive and might not be as passionate as he can be, thus making it difficult to perform sexually well and thus reducing the chances of conceiving.

What Are The Treatment Options For Premature Ejaculation?

If you think you might have PE, this isn’t something to be worried about as PE is treatable. Diagnosing PE could be done through consultation with the doctor where sometimes a psychological examination is done to check for conditions like depression or anxiety. In some cases, the doctor may suggest undergoing a physical examination of the external penis anatomy and having blood tests/hormone levels checked.

Common Medical Treatment Methods Include:

• Topical Therapies and Anaesthetics: Doctors and healthcare providers may recommend the use of anaesthetic sprays and creams such as lidocaine, prilocaine, or benzocaine. These are numbing agents that are to be applied to the penis, for around 30 minutes or more, before sex. It reduces the sensitivity of the penis and thus aids in delaying ejaculation.
• Oral Medication: While most drugs don’t have approval for consumption by the FDA for treating PE, some specific ones have the license of use for the condition. These include antidepressants, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, and analgesics. The medications have a particular prescription dosage and should be taken following the advice of a medical professional.

Additionally, these are some things that could help with delaying ejaculation-

• Masturbating a few hours before sex so that there’s only minimal stimulation right before penetrative sex.
• Using a condom reduces the sensation thus helping in reducing the level of arousal and delaying ejaculation, although you must make sure to remove it if you are trying to conceive a child.
• Take deep breaths and close your eyes briefly during intercourse to shut down the ejaculatory reflexes and delay ejaculation by a little.
• Allowing your partner to go on top during intercourse so they can remove themselves when you are close to ejaculation.
• Making use of self-help techniques and distraction techniques like taking a small break and thinking about something less arousing and something other than sex.

Can A Woman Get Pregnant By Someone Facing Premature Ejaculation?

Even if the man ejaculates early if there is nothing wrong with the quality of sperm and if intravaginal ejaculation (ejaculating inside the vagina) is achieved, then even with less sexual satisfaction the couple might be able to conceive without facing any issues. So yes, men facing PE can get a woman pregnant.

There are plenty of ways for a man with PE to get a woman pregnant and it’s not the prime cause of infertility however it might lead to less passion and fun in your sex life and must be treated before it’s too late.

Sexual health is as important as physical and mental health. In most cases, one consultation can go a long way. Personalised, discreet and judgement-free treatment at your fingertips – book an online consultation with one of Allo’s leading experts.