Does Masturbation Cause Premature Ejaculation? Here’s the Truth

You may have heard that jerking off too fast as a teenager—just trying not to get caught—“trains” you to finish quickly during real sex. And while there’s some truth to how habits and emotions can affect your sexual responses, the core reason some men finish faster than others has more to do with biology than behavior.

What Actually Affects How Long You Last

Every man is wired differently. Some guys can go for a long time naturally. Others reach orgasm much faster, no matter how much they try to hold back. Here’s what science says contributes to that:

• Neurochemistry: Men who ejaculate quickly may have lower serotonin activity in certain parts of the brain.

  • A key paper published in European Urology found that serotonin plays a crucial role in ejaculation control, and men with premature ejaculation often have altered serotonin signaling in the brain.

• Penile sensitivity: Some men have more nerve endings or higher sensitivity, leading to faster stimulation and climax.

• Genetics: Research suggests premature ejaculation has a strong hereditary component. If other family members struggled with it, you might too.

• Hormonal imbalances: Low testosterone or thyroid hormone fluctuations can also play a role.

So What About “Bad Habits”?

Can growing up rushing to masturbate quietly lead to negative conditioning?

Yes — but that’s more about emotional association than physical “training.”

• You might associate sex with guilt, shame, or pressure to finish quickly.

• You may feel anxious, which makes PE more likely (anxiety increases sympathetic nervous system activity).

• If you never practice lasting longer or controlling arousal, you don’t develop that skill.

But here’s the key: bad habits can be reversed.

You Can Learn to Last Longer — Even with a “Quick Trigger”

Just like you can train your body at the gym, you can train your sexual system. Even if you’re wired to finish quickly, you can make major improvements with:

• Edging (delayed ejaculation training): Masturbate until just before climax, stop, breathe, then start again.

• Kegel exercises: Strengthen your pelvic floor to help control ejaculation.

• Desensitizing products or condoms: Help reduce overstimulation.

• Therapy: Address any performance anxiety, shame, or negative associations.

• SSRIs or Dapoxetine: Some medications can slow ejaculation by boosting serotonin.

Final Thoughts

Some men can’t even finish during sex without intense effort. Others climax quickly, almost involuntarily. Neither are “right” or “wrong” — just different.

Masturbation doesn’t cause premature ejaculation. But your mindset, emotional history, and awareness of your body can affect how you perform.

The good news? No matter your starting point, you can improve. For more advanced techniques to train yourself to last longer during sex, see here.

Have a good one!