Can Premature Ejaculation (PE) Be Cured With Zinc?

You may have heard that nutrients such as Zinc, Magnesium and Folic Acid can be beneficial for the treatment of PE. This article will seek to explore the truth behind the claim that Zinc can help with PE. Below, we explain what PE is and how it comes about, and outline how zinc may help with PE with current scientific evidence.

What Causes Premature Ejaculation

PE may occur due to both psychological and physical factors. At the same time, conditions such as Erectile Dysfunction (ED) can increase the risk of PE occurring. Fear of losing an erection after facing issues maintaining an erection may cause a person to hurry through sex, resulting in early ejaculation.

Psychological causes of PE include:
• Depression or anxiety
• Expecting failure
• Traumatic sexual experiences from an earlier age
• Stress
• Issues within the relationship

Physical causes of PE include:
• Abnormal hormone levels
• Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain)
• Inflammation and infection of the prostate or urethra
• Inherited traits

PE may not be a cause of concern if it happens infrequently. However, you might be diagnosed with the condition if you always or often ejaculate within one minute of penetration and/or you often feel distressed and frustrated as it’s affecting your sex life and relationships.

What Is Zinc Used For?

Zinc is a trace mineral that is found in cells throughout the body. It is vital for many aspects of human health, including immunity, metabolism, reproduction, and more. Zinc can also help maintain your vision and keep your skin and heart healthy.

Zinc may even be helpful in combating acne. According to a 2020 study, patients with acne had significantly lower zinc levels. They found that those who were treated with zinc had a significant improvement in their facial acne compared to those who weren’t, and the treatment was particularly effective at decreasing the number of inflammatory papules.

The body cannot produce zinc and doesn’t store excess zinc, so the mineral is usually attained through one’s diet and supplements. It’s found in a wide array of foods such as red meat, poultry, fish, legumes, nuts, dairy and seeds.

Zinc deficiency usually occurs due to inadequate zinc intake or absorption, excessive loss of zinc from the body, or increased requirements for zinc.

Zinc deficiency is involved with various bodily disorders, such as growth failure and immune disorders. According to research, this condition also increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In severe cases of zinc deficiency, possible consequences include hair loss, diarrhea, delayed sexual maturation, impotence, hypodonadism in males, weight loss, taste abnormalities and mental lethargy.

Groups of people at higher risk of zinc deficiency include those with gastrointestinal disease and digestive disorders, vegetarians, and alcoholics. If you drink a little too often, you might want to think about cutting down on your alcohol intake. Ethanol consumption decreases the ability of your intestines to absorb zinc and increases urinary zinc excretion, so overconsumption of alcohol can lead to a low zinc status in your body.

How Can Zinc Help With Premature Ejaculation?

While there has been no specific research on the relationship between zinc and PE, zinc does play an important role in testes development, sperm function and prostate health. This role means that the level of zinc in your body may affect your control of ejaculation.

One study on the effect of zinc supplementation on the sexual behaviour of male rats found that zinc improved their sexual competency. They administered 5mg of Zinc per day and observed that there was an increase in penile thrusting and an increase in time taken to ejaculate. While further research is still required, the rat model was employed to predict the human sexual response to zinc supplements.

A study on the efficacy of a phytotherapeutic combination of Rhodiola rosea (a plant that’s used as a medicinal herb), folic acid, biotin and zinc (EndEP®) on patients with lifelong PE found that the treatment significantly improved the ejaculatory control and quality of sexual life of these patients.

In a 2000 study, zinc was found to contribute to an increase in testosterone (a hormone responsible for your sex drive) amongst men who started on a zinc supplementation regime. According to research, Zinc is also said to have a key role in prostate health and ejaculatory reflex health, helping with sperm release and motility.

Though there is limited specific research on the efficacy of Zinc with relation to PE, its effects on testosterone and prostate health could indeed play a role in helping to improve or prevent PE from occurring.

If you’d like to take your sexual performance one step further, you could try Vigour, an exclusive supplement formulated by Noah which includes several clinically proven ingredients including Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin D3, Fenugreek, Maca Root, and KSM-66® Ashwagandha.

Vigour works for various purposes, including enhancing energy while boosting testosterone levels and sperm count and motility, helping you to manage stress and anxiety, and improving muscle strength and endurance.

Read More: The Best Foods to Help Treat Premature Ejaculation

Are There Any Side Effects Of Zinc?

Zinc supplements can be beneficial to increase your level of zinc intake, especially for those with low levels of zinc. It is a crucial nutrient that supports a number of functions in the body, while also having antioxidant properties. However, consuming zinc supplements in high doses is not advised.

When zinc is taken over a long period of time and in high doses, it may cause copper deficiency, where you might experience symptoms such as numbness and weakness in your limbs. The recommended maximum daily intake of zinc is 40mg for adults.

Overall, zinc supplements are considered safe, and zinc is often present in multivitamin or mineral dietary supplements alongside other nutrients. However, it is possible that you may experience certain side effects of oral zinc supplements such as indigestion, diarrhea, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

What Should I Do If I Have Premature Ejaculation?

If you are experiencing premature ejaculation (PE), you should speak to a licensed doctor to evaluate the issue and receive professional advice. A doctor can help you determine the cause of your condition and work out a PE treatment that best suits you.

Fortunately, PE is a treatable condition and can be improved through medication, behavioural therapy, or a combination of the two. In general, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet through weight loss or smoking cessation have also been proven to help improve PE.

PE medication such as Priligy can be used to treat PE by boosting serotonin levels in the body, leading to a delayed reaction in parts of the brain that control ejaculation and prolongs the time taken to orgasm. It is a prescription-only pill, and is the only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for PE.

Another effective option could be to use a delay spray, which is a product that helps men last longer during sex by reducing sensitivity in a man’s penile to delay ejaculation. If you’re having trouble lasting in bed, Noah’s Prolong Spray may work for you. The lidocaine-based spray is easy to use and is proven to be effective.

Delay sprays are a controlled medication in Singapore and are not available over-the-counter, so you will require a doctor’s prescription to get them.

Noah provides a platform for you to easily consult a doctor who will then recommend the best treatment for you. If you are prescribed medication such as Priligy or a delay spray, you’ll receive it within 4 hours with free discreet delivery.

The Takeaway

Currently, there isn’t much research proving that zinc does specifically help with PE. However, zinc does seem to have numerous benefits pertaining to men’s sexual health, due to its antioxidant properties. As long as you stick to the recommended daily dosage of 40mg, zinc supplements are safe to consume and can have numerous benefits for your body from better immunity to healthier skin.

In general, zinc supplementation shouldn’t be used as the sole treatment method for PE. If you are experiencing symptoms of PE, you should see a doctor to receive a diagnosis and receive help in working out a treatment method that best targets the root cause of your condition.

With Noah, a digital health clinic for men in Singapore, you can speak to a doctor and get the PE treatment that you need from the comfort of home. Doctors on our platform are best equipped to help you determine the best course of action and can prescribe you with the right medication should you need it.