What causes PE?

What happens in PE?

In men with PE, the mechanism of ejaculation is the same as in men without PE, but it happens much more quickly and with less feeling of control. Men with PE have compared their lack of control over ejaculation to a sneeze - they can feel that it's going to happen but they can't do anything to stop it. This is because, like a sneeze, ejaculation is a reflex action that is controlled by the brain and nervous system, and once triggered it can't be stopped. Ejaculation can be triggered by mental as well as physical sexual stimulation.

The exact reason why some people have a faster sexual response is not yet fully understood. In the past, PE was thought to be a purely a psychological condition, but doctors now know that it can be caused by physical problems associated with the serotonin signals in the brain that control ejaculation. Scientists recently discovered variations of a gene controlling serotonin signalling that could be linked to PE⁸.