Science- Premature ejaculation is when a man orgasms sooner than he or his partner would like during sex.
- It is treated with a range of medications, including antidepressants.
Running regularly could help to treat premature ejaculation, new research suggests.
The paper, which was published last month in Trends in Urology and Men's Health, looked at 54 studies on PE with a total of almost 3,500 participants. It compared the results of standard PE medication to alternative treatments. The authors said the findings should prompt more research into the potential of physical activity for managing PE.
There isn't a set definition of PE, but it was defined in the study as when semen leaves the body sooner than wanted during sex.
Gordon Muir, consultant urologist at the Cadogan Clinic, a private clinic in the UK, told Insider that PE is a very common problem that can affect all age groups. An estimated 30 to 85% percent of men have experienced it, according to the study.
According to Mayo Clinic, biological and psychological factors can cause the condition, including depression, and worrying about PE.
PE can be acquired, where the problem starts after the person becomes sexually active, or lifelong, where issues start during their first sexual encounter.
Muir said: "There are a number of treatments that can be helpful, but they are all intrusive to some degree and will depend on whether they are single or in a steady relationship."
These treatments include erectile dysfunction medication such as Tadalafil that increases blood flow to the penis, as well as sprays and wipes that desensitize it.
Anti-depressants such as Sertraline that can delay orgasm can also be used, while sex therapy can help with PE by easing anxiety towards sex.
The paper found exercise could be an effective treatment for premature ejaculation
One of the studies discussed in the paper looked at the impact of physical activity on PE in 105 patients.
The patients were put into three groups: a control group who did no exercise for 30 days, a second group who ran for at least 30 minutes five days a week, and a third who took dapoxetine — another antidepressant commonly used to treat PE.
The group who ran and the group who took the drug both saw significant improvements with PE, with no significant difference between the two.
The authors said this suggested that exercising for longer than 30 minutes at least five times a week helped delay ejaculation.
However, Muir said: "I have patients who are professional sportsmen and international athletes who have problems with premature ejaculation and have never seen a real-life difference."
Pelvic floor exercises may be helpful for those with premature ejaculation
The study also assessed research on pelvic floor exercise in combination with other treatments.
Muir said that there isn't much evidence to suggest pelvic floor exercises help treat PE.
But Karly Coltman, a pelvic health physiotherapist from Sydney Pelvic Clinic in Australia, told Insider that pelvic floor muscles do have a role in maintaining erections, as well as ejaculation.
She said that if your muscle function is weak or tight, it can lead to PE.
Strengthening pelvic floor muscles and using the pelvic floor muscles during sex to defer ejaculation — also known as edging — are techniques used for people who suffer from PE, she said.