Premature ejaculation is a male sexual dysfunction that experiences at least one in three men of all ages and cultures at some point in your life.
This not only affects the full development of sexual life, but also the ability to form affective bonds. Therefore, It has a great impact on the quality of life of the individual.
The articles give the opportunity to delve into what it is and how emotional states influence the appearance and course of this phenomenon, as well as the contributions that the Bioneuroemotion method can provide to the understanding of the symptom.
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Premature ejaculation: symptoms and approach
What is the premature ejaculation?
Premature ejaculation is a sexual dysfunction that refers to a man’s inability to control the ejaculatory impulse, reaching orgasm earlier than desired.
Consequently, the man experiences a feeling of dissatisfaction for not having been able to prolong the climax period during the sexual act and not having fulfilled own and/or partner.
Unfortunately, there are great discrepancies about the scientific definition of the symptom. These mainly revolve around what duration should be considered “early”. Whether that time should be from before or after the consummation of intercourse, and how often it must be experienced to be considered dysfunction. (one)
Masters & Johnson (cited in Ros et al. 2001) state that premature ejaculation is the more common sexual dysfunction in malesBelieving that between 25 and 40% of men have some degree of this dysfunction.(8)
A study carried out in the United States indicated that the prevalence increases from 30%, between 18 and 29 years of age, to 55%, in men between 50 and 59 years of age.
“Desire only works as long as it is directed towards the
action that satisfies him”
Jorge Bucay
types of premature ejaculation
There are different types of premature ejaculation. Being able to accurately identify the nature of the symptom will allow us to understand its origin in order to deal with it with more resources.
The moment of appearance of the dysfunction will determine if it is primary, that is, if it has been presented since the beginning of the individual’s sexual life, or acquired if it has developed from a specific biographical moment.
On the other hand, there will be cases in which the precocity will be experienced generally, that is, always, regardless of the circumstances. And, there will be other cases that will be situational: in a particular context or with specific people.
Additionally, studies have shown that there is a type of premature ejaculation that is purely “psychological”that is to say that the individual has a healthy, normal sexual performance, but subjectively it is perceived as dysfunctional. (one)
Therefore, for the proper approach to this dysfunction, it is essential to see a medical specialist, but without forgetting the emotional variables that could be influencing its manifestation.
Emotional causes of premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is generally considered a multi-causal dysfunction.since depending on the type of symptom it will be linked to biological and/or psychological causes.
The biological causes of premature ejaculation may be related to irregular hormone levels, hereditary traits, and/or organic disorders (dysfunctions of the sexual organs, urological causes, etc.). These are usually the main cause of premature ejaculation of the type primary.
However, in this article we will focus on the psychological causes, which are generally attributed to type dysfunction acquired. May be linked to interpersonal relationship stress (conflict with partner, emotional intimacy problems); to a psychological condition that affects the mental health of the individual (such as depression, negative body image, among others). O well, as a result of a high degree of stress and anxiety.(1) (4)
Treat the symptom holistically
Many times the cause of the malfunction is difficult to determine by the indefinite line that exists between organic and psychological factors due to their constant interaction.
For this reason, specialists generally recommend multidisciplinary treatmentswith the purpose of address the symptom holistically and comprehensively.
From Bioneuroemoción we understand that as established by the psychoneuroendocrinology, sexual health is a reflection of physical healthand, in turn, physical health is influenced by emotional health.
Therefore, in order to improve sexual performance, it is useful to perform to identify what is emotional imbalance that may be influencing this physiological response.
Function and symbology of premature ejaculation
The human reproductive system has the biological function of reproduction to preserve the species. Life aims at life and its meaning is continuity.
Biological meaning of the symptom
From an evolutionary point of view, like other symptoms, premature ejaculation fulfills a specific biological function: effective reproduction and survival.
Science has observed that in the animal world, the males of certain species of aggressive cats need rapid ejaculation. to prevent the female from attacking him. On the contrary, the largest species (such as elephants), due to their weight, need to be very short. so as not to hurt the female.
Likewise, the most unprotected species must fertilize the females in a minimum time, since during sexual intercourse, the sense of alertness decreases and the chances of being attacked increase by predators.
Although the human being presents a more complex psychological world than animals, this information allows us to appreciate the instinct of adaptability to the environment of the biological response.
Symbolic meaning of premature ejaculation
What is it that man perceives as threatening in the environment that causes ejaculation as a physiological response? In most cases, it will not be a real threat, but a symbolic threat.
Symbolic threat refers to a perceived information or stimulus that may not be a risk to your physical integrity. But they do represent a danger to the mental balance of the individual.
Anxiety and premature ejaculation
According to experts, anxiety is considered one of the main causes of premature ejaculation (1). But what is meant as such?
An individual may experience anxiety in response to a fear (eg, feeling insecure with a person or an environmental situation).
Anxiety can also occur as a consequence of an internal incongruity a contradiction between what he wants to do and what he actually does (eg, the man is angry with his partner, but feels guilty and decides not to express it).
Finally, there is what is called performance anxietyis one that is closely related to the concerns that invade the individual about the expectations of the sexual act per se. (one)
That is why from Bioneuroemoción we propose to venture into the path of to be able to review what information has been perceived more or less unconsciously as threatening, to which the organism has responded by developing this manifestation.
The subjectivity of the symptom
Taking into account everything seen so far, we can say that it is precisely in the subjectivity of the symptom where the emotional factor that ends up influencing its manifestation can be found. And, paradoxically, it will also be there where the solution can be found.
Particular Sense about one’s own sexuality
Unlike other animals, Human beings can become aware of their own sexuality. However, this process of signification does not occur individually or in isolation, but is built within a system: culture, society,
“Sexuality, in this sense, is not a purely descriptive term, a neutral representation of some objective state in love affairs, or a simple recognition of some familiar facts about us; rather it is a distinctive way of constructing, organizing and interpreting those facts (…)”
David M Halperin
The interesting thing about healthy sexuality is that Although it is an intimate practice, it has as a necessary condition the to be able to practice it.
Your relational dimension it is the one that forces the individual to construct its meaning based on external parameters. For this very reason he particular sense of sexuality will inevitably be invaded by the influence of macrosystems or social groups, to which the individual belongs.
family and sexuality
As we have mentioned, the biological meaning of sexuality is reproduction for the survival of the species. That is why During adolescence, a strong sexual drive awakens in humans. that generates changes in his physiology as well as in his personality.
At this stage of human development, the biology of the individual drives him to to be able to open up to the world, with the ultimate goal of bonding sexually and emotionally with others.
During this phase, the innate need to in order to build their individual identity. The boy wishes to become a man and for this he must first define what he understands as such.
Premature ejaculation in adolescence
Premature ejaculation is very common during adolescence. The suffering child is experiencing sexuality for the first time, so it is natural that he does not know how to control physiological arousal and finds it difficult to regulate anxiety.
The male, at this stage of his life, perceives the dysfunction as a defeat, a threat to his manhood, a display of lack of virility or sexual experience.
That is why in the social imagination, even in adulthood, premature ejaculation is associated with this immaturity, Lack of experience and control.
This can be seen in the results of symptom prevalence studies. A study carried out in Spain (2009) revealed that 43% of men suffered from premature ejaculation at some point in their lives. Even so, only 38% stated that they thought it necessary to see a doctor for these symptoms.
For this reason, many scholars consider it medically a underdiagnosed symptom due to the limited search for advice by fear of social prejudice and “what will they say”.
The social dimension of sexuality
The predominant discourse in the culture of Western societies is…