The definition of premature ejaculation has changed over time and while there has been an attempt to create a single definition for clinicians and researchers, much of the research on premature ejaculation does not use the same definition.
"What is premature ejaculation? There are many different ways of thinking about the issue. This article provides 3 different definitions: the Simple Time definition, the Gap definition, and the Impact definition.
1) The Simple Time Definition
A lot of people judge themselves to have premature ejaculation based on how long they last in bed.
If you regularly last 15 seconds, 30 seconds, or less than 1 minute in bed, then it's pretty safe to say that you do have premature ejaculation.
But what if you last 2 minutes?
Well, now we're in sort of a grey area with this definition. You might think 2 minutes isn't a very long time, but studies have shown that the average guy lasts 2 to 6 minutes. That would mean that the average man -- on the low end of ""average"" -- has premature ejaculation.
2) The Gap Definition
Let’s look at the other end of the “average” spectrum: 6 minutes. That sounds pretty good, right? Actually, when we're talking about the Gap Definition, you could classify an average duration of 6 minutes as premature ejaculation. And here's why.
The average woman takes 5 to 15 minutes of sex to have an orgasm. Meanwhile, men last 2 to 6 minutes.
Can you spot the problem here? The average guy is not lasting long enough to satisfy the average woman.
And so now I bet you're starting to see why premature ejaculation is such a common thing. 20% to 40% of men suffer from premature ejaculation.
If you're currently lasting 4 minutes in bed, then the knowledge that most women require 5 to 15 minutes might give you some extra motivation to add an extra minute onto your average performance.
3) The Impact Definition
In my view, this is the best definition of premature ejaculation. This definition says ""If your inability to last longer in bed is causing any negative impact on your mind, your life, or your relationship whatsoever"" - then you have premature ejaculation, and you should seek out a solution.
One guy might be lasting 15 seconds and say to himself, “This is having a negative impact on my life. I want to do something about it.”
Another guy might be lasting 15 or 20 minutes on average, but every once in a while, he'll lose control. And he wants to last longer in bed.
The important thing is to think about these definitions of premature ejaculation, and see which one resonates with you: the simple time definition, the gap definition, or the impact definition."
The DSM defines premature ejaculation as
…the persistent or recurrent onset of orgasm and ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation before, on, or shortly after penetration and before the person wishes it… The disturbance must cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty [and]…The premature ejaculation is not due exclusively to the direct effects of a substance (e.g., withdrawal from opioids).
In 2008 the International Society for Sexual Medicine released a new definition of premature ejaculation, in consultation with “21 internationally recognized experts” who defined it as follows:
Premature ejaculation is a male sexual dysfunction characterized by ejaculation which always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about one minute of vaginal penetration; and inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy.
Premature ejaculation may be lifelong (sometimes called “primary premature ejaculation”), meaning that a man has experienced it since he first started engaging in sexual behaviors with others, or acquired (also called “secondary premature ejaculation”), meaning that he previously did not experience premature ejaculation but it has developed at a later point.
