Premature ejaculation (PE) can begin or return later in life, including after 40. When it starts after years of normal timing, it is called acquired PE, and it is worth looking at the possible causes. This article is general information and not a medical assessment.
Why it can start later
In a large multinational study of couples, the median time from penetration to ejaculation was shorter in older men: about 6.5 minutes at ages 18 to 30, falling to about 4.3 minutes in men over 51. So some change with age is common, and it does not by itself mean PE. When the change is marked, comes on fairly suddenly, or bothers you or your partner, it is worth asking why. The European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines advise looking for an underlying cause first in acquired PE. See the types of PE.
Medical contributors to check
- Prostate and pelvic conditions. Prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain have been linked to early ejaculation, with the guidelines reporting a wide range of between about 26% and 77% of men affected.
- Thyroid. An overactive thyroid has been linked to acquired PE in some studies.
- Other health conditions. A doctor will consider your general health.
Only a doctor can check for these. See medical causes of PE.
Erectile function and PE
Erectile dysfunction (ED) becomes more common with age, and it is associated with acquired PE. A man who is worried about keeping his erection may ejaculate sooner as a result. Erection problems can sometimes be an early sign of other health conditions, so they should be checked. See PE and erectile dysfunction.
Medicines to review
Some prescription medicines, and alcohol and recreational drugs, can affect sexual function. If your PE started around the time that you began or changed a medicine, mention this to your doctor. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own.
What to do next
- See a GP, who can check your health, review your medicines and refer you to a urologist if needed. See when to see a doctor.
- Think about when it started and what else changed, such as health, medicines, stress or your relationship.
- Talk to your partner. See how to talk to your partner about PE.
- Read the overview of treatment options.
This article is general information. It does not replace advice from a doctor.
Sources and further reading
- Althof SE, McMahon CG, Waldinger MD, et al. An update of the International Society of Sexual Medicine's guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of premature ejaculation. Sex Med 2014;2(2):60-90
- European Association of Urology guidelines on sexual and reproductive health, 2021 update: male sexual dysfunction. Eur Urol 2021;80(3):333-357
- Seftel AD. Editorial on the multinational survey of intravaginal ejaculation latency time (Waldinger MD et al., J Sex Med 2005). Int J Impot Res 2006;18:S1-S2
This article is general educational information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.