1 Understanding the mechanism of premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is the most common male sexual dysfunction, affecting up to one man in three during his lifetime. It is characterised by an involuntary inability to delay ejaculation beyond one minute after penetration, causing frustration, shame and emotional withdrawal. Far from an irreversible physical abnormality, it results from insufficient learning of how to perceive neurosensory arousal thresholds.
2 James Semans's Stop-Start method
Created by urologist James Semans, the Stop-Start method teaches men to identify the ejaculatory 'point of no return' precisely. During manual stimulation, first alone and then with their partner, the man stops all stimulation as soon as he feels arousal rising towards the critical threshold. He waits for arousal to subside before gently resuming. Repeating these cycles reprogrammes the neurological reflexes of pelvic control.
3 Masters and Johnson's Squeeze technique
Complementing Stop-Start, the Squeeze technique involves applying firm manual pressure with the thumb and two fingers to the penile frenulum or the base of the glans when the urge to ejaculate becomes imminent. This mechanical pressure dissipates reflex urgency and allows the intimate exchange to continue longer.
4 The place of this approach within care
This approach requires a climate of trust and reassurance: practised regularly over a few weeks, these behavioural exercises achieve remarkable success rates, restoring men's confidence in their masculinity and the couple's shared intimacy.
5 Patience and reassurance within the loving relationship
Rehabilitating ejaculatory control requires consistency and closeness. A partner's caring involvement turns these exercises into moments of play and sensual discovery, permanently dispelling shame and performance anxiety.