Regular exercise helps men with a common sexual problem to perform better in bed, according to a new study.
Running for just 30 minutes five times a week appears to be a potentially effective way of treating premature ejaculation, say scientists.
They believe regular running has the same positive effect as taking common pharmacological treatments for the problem.
Premature ejaculation is estimated to affect anywhere between 30 percent to 83 percent of men.
The drug dapoxetine has been licensed in the UK and is commonly used.
While it is an effective treatment, it can cause side effects such as headaches, dizziness and nausea.
Other options include local anesthetics, clomipramine and tramadol.
However, physical activity could be just as good and comes with no side effects.
“Men who were conducting marathon-specific training had lower libido scores (p<0.05; ~20%, d=0.44) than those who were not engaged in marathon training,” said the NIH in the results for men in sexual libido.
Researchers reviewed 54 studies published over the past 49 years, involving just under 3,500 participants from across the world.
A man might be diagnosed with premature ejaculation for the following:
- Always ejaculates within 1 to 3 minutes of penetration.
- Rarely ever delay ejaculation during sex.
- Feels distressed about the timing of ejaculation during sex where intimacy may not occur.
One study revealed that running for 30 minutes five time a week had the same effect as taking dapoxetine.
Another showed that carrying out pelvic floor exercises increased the time a man can last from one minute to three.
Using various forms of psychotherapy also helped increase stamina.
Senior author Professor Lee Smith, of Anglia Ruskin University, said: “We know premature ejaculation is a common complaint among men worldwide.
“The lack of a clear definition of what is or isn’t premature ejaculation has repercussions in terms of treatment, and there are relatively few effective drugs available.
“Our paper is a comprehensive review of studies into non-pharmacological interventions for this common complaint, and there are clear indications that physical exercise, including running and engaging the pelvic floor muscles, show promise in several studies.”
Smith added: “Given that drugs often have side effects, it appears that after all, the best medicine for avoiding premature ejaculation may well lie in exercise, and this possibility requires larger studies and further investigation.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
