Premature ejaculation is not something most men want to talk about, but studies show that at least 30% of men will end up having to deal with it.
As unpleasant as it might be to think about premature ejaculation, it is very common and, thankfully, extremely treatable.
When talking about premature ejaculation, it’s important to first understand that there are four different types of PE:
Lifelong: having an orgasm during foreplay or within a few seconds of penetrative sex.
Subjective: When either you or your partner are not satisfied with your performance.
Variable: Situational PE (new partner, new place, etc.)
Acquired: Something has happened that has caused you to have premature ejaculation.
While it's embarrassing in the moment, it's a completely treatable medical condition, and the best part is that you don't even need a prescription to handle it.
Quick FAQs
Yes, according to a study done in 2017, 100% of men saw improvements after using premature ejaculation wipes.
Studies conducted in 2017 and 2019 both showed similar results. The majority of men saw about a 300% increase.
No, if used correctly, there should be little to no transference to your partner.
The wipes take about 10 minutes to fully take effect and last for around 30 minutes.
One of the easiest-to-use and most discreet methods for treating premature ejaculation is with a wipe.
They come in small, pocket-sized packages, perfect for toting along to dates or stashing them in your nightstand.
Let's take a closer look at premature ejaculation wipes.
The method by which over-the-counter wipes for premature ejaculation work is extremely simple and possibly a little surprising.
If you've ever scraped your knee or gotten a bee sting, you've probably used benzocaine to treat the affected area.
It desensitizes mildly without completely knocking out the nerves while still dulling pain sensations.
For men that experience premature ejaculation, this same ingredient can help desensitize your penis just enough to make you last longer in bed.
Due to their effectiveness and ease of use, premature ejaculation wipes do work for the overwhelming majority of men who use them.
They simply desensitize the nerves in the penis without blocking sensation entirely, which means you can still experience the pleasure of sex while lasting longer.
What can you expect when using premature ejaculation wipes?
When you first apply the wipe, it will take about 5-10 minutes for the effects to kick in and start working to their full potential.
Don’t worry. You'll still experience plenty of pleasure and feeling.
In terms of lasting longer, men who averaged under 1 minute of performance before orgasm prior to using wipes typically see an increase after the first use.
This will be 2+ minutes for many men, increasing to around 3 minutes after one month of using the wipes and increasing as you continue to use them.
It seems the more frequently you and your partner use premature ejaculation wipes in bed, the longer you'll last.
This may be due to several factors, but the primary ones are:
You'll get a better understanding of where to apply and just how much.
More frequent positive sexual experiences improve confidence and performance.
Often, premature ejaculation is caused not just by overly sensitive nerves in the penis, but also psychological and emotional problems, stage fright, shyness, and a multitude of other social factors that come into play during sex.
As you last longer in bed due to the effect of the wipes, you'll learn strategies during sex that help you personally last longer.
While it's very simple to use premature ejaculation wipes, there are some methods you'll want to follow to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Step 1 (apply)
Application is fairly simple - pull the wipe from its package and apply it to your penis.
Wipe around the underside of the head of the penis once, as you can go back and apply the wipe again if need be, in the event the initial dose doesn't provide enough numbness.
Step 2 (wait 5-10 minutes)
It takes about 5-10 minutes for the benzocaine to work and fully absorb into the skin.
It is crucial to wait the entire time to minimize the possibility of transference to your partner, but waiting also serves another purpose.
Not only is this a great time for foreplay, but waiting gives you the time to determine if you need to use the wipe again or if you're experiencing enough desensitization with the initial application.
You don't want to apply too much and end up with the opposite problem (not being able to orgasm).
FAQ about Premature Ejaculation Wipes
Most people probably don't know that premature ejaculation wipes exist, at least until they need them.
While they're not usually stocked at your local grocery store, you might be able to find them at adult stores or other sexual health businesses in your area.
However, most people will find it much easier to buy them online from a reputable company.
Where to buy
Buying online is the best bet - you can even get them delivered on a recurring schedule if you buy through a company like Promescent.
What's better than getting a life-changing product shipped to your door discreetly, as often as you need?
How do they work?
Premature ejaculation wipes apply benzocaine to your penis, which in turn blocks nerve signals and reduces sensitivity.
This happens because benzocaine blocks the channels by which your nerves activate.
When the "action potential" of a nerve sensation is blocked, you experience this as desensitization.
If your nerves are desensitized, you progress to orgasm much slower, leading to longer, more satisfying sex for you and your partner.
For many men, this can also lead to better relationships.
Even though premature ejaculation is rather common, it can wreak havoc on someone's self-esteem and confidence, leading to relationship issues (even if your partner doesn't actually have a problem with it).
How long do they last?
Depending on a few factors, such as where you apply the wipes and how much you applied, the effects of premature ejaculation wipes can last, on average, about 30 minutes to one hour.
Do they transfer to your partner?
Yes, premature ejaculation wipes can transfer to your partner if used incorrectly.
Waiting 10 minutes before engaging in penetrative sex will reduce the chances of transfer.
What do they feel like after applying?
Yes, premature ejaculation wipes can transfer to your partner if used incorrectly.
Waiting 10 minutes before engaging in penetrative sex will reduce the possibility of transfer.
What do they feel like after applying?
If you've ever put first aid spray on a bite or cut, the desensitization associated with that is what you'll feel, except on your penis.
Many men describe it as the feeling of having a condom on (in terms of desensitization).
What are the best PE Wipes?
You have some options when it comes to premature ejaculation wipes, and this is because benzocaine is a widely studied, extremely popular, and safe topical agent.
Promescent Delay Wipes
These discreetly packaged wipes contain 7% benzocaine. That's 175% stronger than other wipes.
These handy wipes come individually packaged and are perfect for a night out on the town.
Available through Promescent.com, you can purchase them with or without a subscription, making them a bit more convenient than other wipes on the market.
Playboy Wipes
Naturally, one of the most recognizable names in sex has made a premature ejaculation product, and Playboy delivers with a 4% benzocaine wipe that works pretty well.
One thing that Playboy claims is that their wipes can be used over and over throughout your sex romp, be it all night or all day.
This might be true, but the efficacy of the wipes will diminish over time, and they seem to use this as a selling point (and as a reason to charge a bit more).
Ultimately, Playboy wipes do work well, and even if you don't actually get additional use out of each wipe, they do what they advertise and will help you last longer in bed.
Roman Swipes
No discussion of the best men's sexual health products would be complete without a Roman Swipes review.
Roman offers discreet, direct-to-your-door shipping of men's health products, from erectile dysfunction medicine to, in this case, premature ejaculation wipes.
Roman wipes come in small, discreet individual packages.
They're flat, and about the size of a condom, so you can carry them in your wallet.
It’s important to note that you can only purchase the Swipes through Roman with a subscription.
Side Effects and Risks
While benzocaine is extremely safe and widely studied, it's not without potential side effects.
While there is a small subset of men who are allergic and might have a reaction, this number is small.
An actual allergic reaction to over the counter premature ejaculation wipes might cause:
Itching
Burning in the affected area
Rawness or redness on the penis
Again, this might not be common, but it's worth mentioning.
For most men, two primary side effects might come up.
Pro Tip: If you have a sensitivity to benzocaine then you might want to try Promescent climax control spray, a lidocaine-based spray for PE.
1. Erectile dysfunction from too much desensitization
This occurs most often when too much of the benzocaine is applied and speaks to the importance of applying a single swipe and waiting 10 minutes.
If you go overboard with a premature ejaculation wipe, don't beat yourself up.
Just focus on your partner for a bit while the sensation returns, and you should be able to perform normally.
I'm sure your partner will be fine with spending some time focusing on their needs for a bit.
2. Minor abrasions due to decreased sensitivity
Unfortunately, the desensitization that causes you to last longer also makes it unlikely that you'll feel when you need more lube, or there's just a bit too much friction.
This can lead to friction burn, which is uncomfortable and can sideline you for a few days while your penis recovers.
To avoid this, just make sure you have a bottle of lube in your sexual toolkit and use it when necessary.
Things are better when they're wetter, anyway, so don't be shy about using it during sex when you're using premature ejaculation wipes.
Takeaways
If you're dealing with chronic premature ejaculation, you're not alone, and you shouldn't feel bad.
Over 30% of men will experience problems with premature ejaculation in their lifetime, and the causes are usually easily treated.
One of the easiest methods to treat premature ejaculation and to last longer in bed is PE wipes.
The benzocaine in PE wipes is safe, effective, and very easy to use, increasing your performance time the more you use them.
If you've ever considered using numbing wipes for premature ejaculation, there's never been a better time than now to give them a try.
Dr. Yafi is Associate Professor of Urology, Chief of Men’s Health and Reconstructive Urology, Director of Men’s Health and Newport Urology at the University of California, Irvine. His practice specializes in men’s health, erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, Peyronie’s disease, prosthetic surgery, male voiding dysfunction and male infertility. Dr. Yafi has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He is the current Chair of the SMSNA scientific committee and co-Chair of the ISSM Consultations and Guidelines committee. Dr. Yafi earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut, then completed his internship in General Surgery at the Mayo Clinic, his residency in Urology at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and his fellowship in Andrology, Sexual Medicine and Prosthetic Urology at Tulane University.
Sources:
Absorption Pharmaceuticals LLC (Promescent) has strict informational citing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic or research institutions, medical associations, and medical experts. We attempt to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references and only citing trustworthy sources. Each article is reviewed, written, and updated by Medical Professionals or authoritative Experts in a specific, related field of practice. You can find out more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Arie Parnham and Ege Can Serefoglu. 2016 August. Classification and definition of premature ejaculation. Translational Andrology and Urology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5001991/. Accessed May 5, 2022.
Singh R, Al Khalili Y. Benzocaine. [Updated 2022 Jan 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541053/. Accessed May 5, 2022.
Crowdis M, Nazir S. Premature Ejaculation. [Updated 2021 Jul 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546701/. Accessed May 5, 2022.
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
