Premature Ejaculation
Q: I never really had a problem with this before, and I was hoping that it would go away but it seems to have become a mainstay in my life. I had a bit of a dry spell before COVID, which lasted longer than I intended…because COVID. I finally got back into dating last autumn when it felt safe (and I promise I’ve taken all the precautions). I’ve dated a few women (only one at a time) since then and I don’t last quite as long as I used. In fact, I don’t last long at all.
I never used to have this problem at all—in fact, it was quite the opposite, as I was on medication that inhibited it. Anyway, I’m “au natural” now. I don’t know if it’s the dating situation or the lack of medication, but I just come so fast. What can I do about it? Are there any good ways or mind tricks to make myself last longer when I’m in an intimate situation?
A: So most men will ejaculate some time between 2 and 7 minutes of thrusting. If you were on antidepressants, then yes, the side effect is to delay ejaculation. You may be adjusting to the new you, with no meds. The only real “mind trick” is to focus on what your body is feeling (don’t try to distract yourself—quite the opposite). When you are aware of your point of no return, you can slow down or stop your thrusting. This is known as the Stop/Start technique. You can also try using a numbing cream. Please check out our other blog posts on this subject.
Discoloration
Q: This may seem trivial, but it’s bothered me for a while. I have some discoloration on my penis. It’s not that apparent, but I’d like for it to look as smooth and clean as possible. I got into skincare a few years ago, so I use stuff like retinol and vitamin C on my face, and I’ve had great results, which I guess is why I wonder if those are also products I can use down there to address my discoloration—or are there specific products for the genitals for that.
A: Discoloration is usually nothing to worry about unless you have other symptoms like pain, bleeding, scaly skin, itching, unusual sores, or discharge. Then you definitely need to seek medical help. Using a moisturizer on your penile skin is fine. But just to ease your mind, you might want a consultation with a dermatologist to see what options for creams you could use safely.