NoFap Premature Ejaculation: Can NoFap Help With PE?
Do you ever feel like you masturbate too much? If so, know you’re not alone.
The internet (and internet pornography, specifically) has drastically changed the way society functions. For some guys, the endless supply of media can lead to sexual behavior patterns and habits that might feel shameful.
Or, it can make frequent masturbation a replacement for real sexual relationships, which is something you don’t want to happen.
But just because something feels wrong doesn’t mean it’s harming you. And while porn addiction may be a cause for concern, the messy space between frequent masturbation and negative health consequences is murky.
Men trying to limit solo sessions with the internet and a bottle of lotion may resort to NoFap.
What the heck is NoFap? Keep reading for answers.
What Is NoFAP?
NoFap is a movement — an internet community convinced there’s a correlation between controlling those baser browser instincts and unlocking new levels of healthy bodily function.
The movement alleges that “beating your meat” less often can improve health, memory, cognitive performance and maybe even performance in the bedroom — which might appeal to those dealing with sexual dysfunction problems like premature ejaculation (PE).
PE is a common male sexual dysfunction issue affecting 20 to 30 percent of men regardless of age or ethnicity.
Premature ejaculation is characterized by:
Ejaculation that almost always happens within about one minute of vaginal penetration or reduced intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), which is typically three minutes or less
Inability to delay ejaculation on most or all vaginal penetrations
Experiencing negative personal consequences from sex, including distress, frustration or avoiding sexual intimacy altogether
So, does porn or masturbation cause premature ejaculation? Let’s explore the relationship (or lack thereof) between premature ejaculation and NoFap to find out.
longer sex is yours for the taking
What Is the NoFap Movement?
We’ve briefly discussed NoFap, but let’s go a little deeper to better understand this questionably named movement.
The NoFap is essentially a modernized version of age-old perceptions about masturbation tied up in the world of abstinence — but with a twist. It has challenges that go against PMO (porn, masturbation and orgasm).
The PMO NoFap movement combines two principles:
Abstaining from masturbation is better for your health than masturbating.
Watching internet pornography is bad for your health.
Take those two statements, mix them together, throw them into the crazy world of Reddit forums, and you’ll get the subreddit /nofap.
NoFap Challenges
Within the NoFap movement are various “challenges” men can complete for supposedly better health and semen retention.
For example, “NoFap November” is an annual 30-day challenge that helps men “reset” by avoiding porn and masturbation. If this sounds familiar, it is. Everyone from the writers of Seinfeld to the masterminds behind Lent considered this reset concept.
NoFap also has a 90-day “reboot” that challenges members to not orgasm, masturbate or look at porn for three months — with all the (purported) benefits of NoFap being the reward in both cases.
Research on Potential NoFap Benefits
As of now, no medical evidence backs up NoFap’s promises to its members.
There’s a widespread belief in porn-induced erectile dysfunction, which can be a motivator for many men to abstain from watching internet porn or masturbation as a whole.
Researchers have acknowledged problems that can arise from indulging in excessive pornography. However, they still don’t have scientific evidence to back up whether excessive porn is a physiological cause of premature ejaculation.
It’s certainly not the most unusual treatment you may have heard of. Premature ejaculation hypnosis, anyone?
Can NoFap Help With Premature Ejaculation?
Can “no fapping” challenges help you manage premature ejaculation?
There are two answers to this question: One is about abstinence from masturbation, and the other has to do with pornography addiction.
Let’s look at both questions independent of the NoFap movement.
Masturbation Abstinence and PE
Currently, no evidence supports a link between health benefits and being abstinent. This includes a study where researchers examined a possible connection between premature ejaculation and response to nerve tests.
A review of 30 studies across three decades suggests that abstaining from ejaculation might actually improve your sperm quality — which may be a benefit for men trying to conceive with their partners. Still, more research is needed to fully understand whether temporary abstinence increases semen quality.
Porn Abstinence and PE
With regard to porn, NoFap’s argument leaves a lot to be desired in the way of evidence.
According to a review, there’s a slight possibility that if you stop watching internet pornography, you can reverse some of the negative effects of sexual dysfunction. But lots more data is necessary to confirm or deny the connection between porn use and sexual dysfunction.
With the research we do have available, there’s a link between people who believe they’re addicted to porn or masturbate too much and sexual dysfunction, such as PE or erectile dysfunction (ED).
A study showed that in self-reported cases of porn addiction, 61 percent of men were more likely to masturbate regularly compared to 38 percent of women. Masturbating isn’t an abnormal behavior and is often viewed as a safe-sex behavior — however, there’s a stigma around it that can lead to masturbatory guilt.
In simpler terms, when you feel guilty about fapping — even without a porn addiction — you may experience mental distress about your actions due to social taboos and cultural beliefs.
The authors of the above-mentioned study recommended that mental health professionals consider self-perception as a contributing factor to sexual dysfunction, but the case for addiction as a cause wasn’t established.
Those self-perceptions roaming around in your mind could be causing more harm to your sexual performance in the bedroom than what you watch on your favorite porn website. Having said that, we just don’t know for sure because the research is still lacking.
Want to learn more about the benefits of not ejaculating? Check out our blog.
Alternatives to NoFap for Premature Ejaculation
If you want to hop on the bandwagon with the NoFap movement, that’s your choice.
But we can tell you now that a 30-day abstinence challenge probably isn’t going to do anything for you — especially if you’re dealing with premature ejaculation. And based on the research, sexual health experts don’t recommend NoFap, either.
In place of NoFap, other methods may help with premature ejaculation symptoms.
Medication-Free Approaches for PE
The start-stop technique, the squeeze method and pelvic floor exercises (also known as Kegels) are medication-free approaches that may prevent you from cumming before you’d like to.
Start-stop technique. For the start-stop method, you’ll stimulate your penis right up until the point of orgasm, then stop until the need to ejaculate goes away. This requires some self-control, but you can get better at it with practice.
Squeeze technique. The squeeze technique involves stimulating your penis and then stopping right before you orgasm. You’ll then apply some pressure to the head of the penis to decrease sensitization, then get back to business. Research shows it can work, but we recommend talking to your partner before trying it, just so nobody’s confused.
Pelvic floor exercises. Then there are Kegel exercises, which may improve your pelvic floor muscles’ stamina and give you some degree of orgasmic control to address ongoing premature ejaculation symptoms. You can Kegel away, but science isn’t exactly sure how many you should do — or how often you need to do them — to get desired results.
Masturbation before sex and condom use may also help with PE. Both might delay ejaculation, but more research is necessary to determine the effectiveness of these methods.
Topical PE Treatments
If you’re looking for over-the-counter treatments proven to help prevent or relieve PE symptoms, consider benzocaine wipes or desensitizing spray.
Benzocaine wipes have the same active ingredient as some dental numbing medications. When used as directed, they can be effective in improving bedroom performance and satisfaction (for both you and your sexual partner).
A study looked at 21 men with PE who used 4% benzocaine wipes. After two months of use, there was a significant improvement in average IELT. However, there was one major limitation with the results of this study — it’s unknown how frequently the men used the wipes.
Another option to consider for PE is Delay Spray. This topical product lowers the sensitivity in your penis — and you don’t have to deal with an uncomfortable numbing sensation.
The best part is that desensitizing spray lets you enjoy sex without worrying about cumming quicker than you planned to. Spray it on 10 to 15 minutes before sex for better sexual stimulation and prevention of early orgasm.
PE Medications (Off-Label)
A final option may be antidepressants of the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) variety.
These medications work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, which is when the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by the cells that created it. This leads to an increase in serotonin in your body.
SSRIs are typically first-line treatments for depression, but delayed ejaculation is one of the side effects. Consequently, they’re sometimes prescribed off-label to treat premature ejaculation.
SSRIs that may be prescribed for premature ejaculation include:
Sertraline (the generic version of Zoloft®)
Paroxetine (generic for Aropax®, Paxil®, Pexeva®, Seroxat®, Sereupin® and Brisdelle®)
Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
Citalopram (Celexa®)
Escitalopram (Lexapro® and Cipralex®)
Vilazodone (Viibryd®)
Sildenafil (popularly known by the brand name Viagra®) is another medication that might help treat PE. A study revealed that it may improve IELT, boost sexual satisfaction, decrease PE severity and increase the frequency of sexual activity.
This is another drug without official approval from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to treat premature ejaculation specifically. But research shows that it can be effective in relieving symptoms.
If the non-medical treatment options for premature ejaculation aren’t working for you, speak with your healthcare provider about the potential benefits of antidepressants.
improve performance with doctor-trusted treatments
PMO and NoFap: The Bottom Line
There’s nothing wrong with watching porn online in moderation. But if you believe you’re facing porn addiction, it’s best to avoid the PMO NoFap movement and seek professional help.
We can also safely say that the NoFap movement isn’t a good way to treat premature ejaculation.
If you’re dealing with PE symptoms or another form of sexual dysfunction, try other methods to delay ejaculation and improve your sex life. There are plenty of over-the-counter and prescription medications you can try to enhance sexual performance.
Considering joining the NoFap movement because you think excessive masturbation is affecting your daily life? We’re not here to talk you out of it — but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Here’s what to keep in mind about NoFap and premature ejaculation:
Masturbation is a common behavior that falls within the normal range of healthy sexual activity. In fact, it is promoted as a safe-sex behavior and applied in sex therapy.
There’s a lack of evidence on the relationship between masturbation and sexual dysfunction, which makes it difficult to determine if ceasing masturbation or limiting it will have effects.
NoFap is a movement created on Reddit to help men abstain from internet pornography and masturbation, but there’s not much evidence to back up its claims.
If you’re thinking of joining the NoFap community for help with PE symptoms, consider other methods, like physical techniques, wipes, sprays and off-label medications.
Ready to get help? You can talk to someone today about psychological sexual dysfunction through our online therapy platform.
Want to learn more about PE first? Check out our premature ejaculation treatments to learn more about ways to manage this sexual function issue.
If you have ED, you can explore the available erectile dysfunction treatments.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.