Premature Ejaculation Wipes: Are They Effective?
You already know a moist towelette is the answer to mess-free chicken wings, but could a little prepackaged wipe also be the secret to helping you last longer in bed?
Well, friends, yes. Enter: premature ejaculation wipes. These single-use cloths desensitize the penis to help prevent premature ejaculation (PE).
Here, we’ll talk about premature ejaculation wipes and how they work to help prevent PE, plus potential side effects to be aware of (spoiler alert: not many). We’ll also go over other PE treatments if you’re not a wet-wipe guy.
What Are PE Wipes and How Do They Work?
The idea of numbing your penis might make you shudder — but PE wipes don’t totally numb you. Instead, they desensitize the penis and glans (that’s the formal name for the rounded tip) so you don’t feel everything as acutely and, as a result, last longer.
The wipes use benzocaine as a numbing agent (the same topical anesthetic in Orajel). Other brands or PE sprays may contain a mix of benzocaine and lidocaine.
Like the little towelettes that come with your hot wings order, our Clockstopper benzocaine wipes are portable, wrapped in discreet packaging, pre-portioned and easy to use.
Premature ejaculation wipes are hassle-free and portable. If you keep a condom in your wallet, you can tuck a wipe packet next to it or stash them discreetly in your nightstand.
longer sex is yours for the taking
How to Use Premature Ejaculation Wipes
To use a delay wipe, unwrap it from the disposable sleeve. Avoid touching the wipe with your bare hands — it’s totally safe but might make your fingers numb. If you accidentally get some on your hands, no biggie. Just wash thoroughly with soap and warm water.
You can experiment with applying different amounts to different areas (starting with a swipe on the tip) to figure out what works best.
If you want more desensitization, apply the wipe to the shaft. Let it dry for five minutes before vaginal, anal or oral sex.
You may want to try one before masturbation first to get a good idea of how it’ll work during sex.
How Effective Are Premature Ejaculation Wipes?
It might seem almost too good to be true that something as humble as a wet wipe is effective against premature ejaculation.
But science is on the side of premature ejaculation wipes. A small study of 21 men experiencing PE showed a statistically significant increase in the time it took to ejaculate when using desensitizing wipes before sex. The effects were even more notable after two months of use (so keep at it, even if you’re not sure initially).
Intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT or IVELT) is just a math term for the time it takes to ejaculate during vaginal sex (yes, there’s sex math). Some data suggests that men with an IELT of less than a minute definitely have PE, while men with IELTs between one and one and a half minutes have “probable” PE.
The first study we mentioned found that in month one of use, the mean IELT was about 1.8 minutes for the placebo group and 2.75 minutes for those receiving treatment. After two months of use, the treatment group climbed to five and a half minutes.
The same study also found “no transference” to partners, meaning no numb vaginas. Win.
Side Effects of PE Wipes
If you’re a parent of a small child, you might have heard that, as of 2018, the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) no longer allows over-the-counter baby teething gels containing benzocaine to be marketed or sold.
These products were banned because benzocaine is associated with a rare but serious blood condition known as methemoglobinemia, where the blood doesn’t carry enough oxygen. Understandably, this could make you wonder if benzocaine is safe — and if you want to put it on your private areas.
Rest assured that benzocaine gels, liquids and lozenges are FDA-approved for adults and considered safe when used as directed — though sprays aren’t specifically approved.
There are potential topical benzocaine side effects, however. These include:
Skin tenderness or redness
Skin rash and itchy, burning or stinging skin
Dry, white flakes where the medication was applied
Edema (swelling caused by excess fluid)
Excessive numbing, which makes sex difficult
Not to sound like a drug commercial, but if you or your partner experience side effects or an allergic reaction to benzocaine (which may look like swelling on the face, tongue, throat or lips, difficulty breathing or hives), speak to a healthcare provider or seek medical advice immediately.
Other Ways to Treat Premature Ejaculation
There’s significant scientific research showing that benzocaine wipes are an effective tool for treating premature ejaculation. Still, alternative treatments abound, including some other treatments you can use in tandem with the wipe.
Topical PE Treatments
Other topical treatments for PE are available if you’re not keen on the idea of moist towelette. These include desensitizing sprays, creams and local anesthetics with other active ingredients.
Our Delay Spray and premature ejaculation wipes do have one notable difference, though. The spray uses lidocaine as a desensitizing agent, whereas — as you know by now — the wipes contain benzocaine.
To use the spray, apply three to ten spritzes (it’s a choose-your-own-adventure situation!) on your penis 10 to 15 minutes before sex.
Some research shows that lidocaine transfers to your partner if you’re not using a condom, which is a good reason to make sure you’ve waited enough time — or to try a different kind of treatment.
PE Medications
There’s currently no FDA-approved oral prescription drug for premature ejaculation. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take medication to delay ejaculation.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants sometimes prescribed off-label for the treatment of premature ejaculation. PDE5 inhibitors, which are used for ED, may also be used off label to treat PE.
Here’s what to know:
SSRI for PE. A 2007 randomized controlled trial looked at the effects of three SSRIs (fluoxetine, paroxetine and escitalopram) in 100 men with PE. All participants reported improvement in PE, and all medications were well tolerated. However, a double-blind 2019 study found that paroxetine (another SSRI) provided better efficacy than a placebo, fluoxetine and escitalopram in the treatment of premature ejaculation.
PDE5 inhibitors for PE. The PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil (guys, it’s Viagra®) is approved to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in males ages 18 years and older, but it’s often prescribed off-label to help with climax control. A 2007 study on 180 men experiencing PE found that sildenafil was effective and safe in treating PE, with a higher efficacy than paroxetine.
PE Techniques
Not ready to take matters out of your own hands? Some home remedies for PE may help you control ejaculation. Learn about popular ejaculation-delaying methods below.
Stop-start method. The stop-start technique is what it sounds like. Right before you’re about to orgasm, stop having sex and then start again when the urge to ejaculate goes away — easier said than done, but worth a shot. According to experts, you should repeat the stop-start technique several times during sex.
Squeeze technique. Another option for delaying ejaculation without using desensitizing agents is the squeeze technique. Just before orgasm, pull out and gently squeeze the tip of your penis for about 30 seconds to decrease arousal. You may need to repeat the squeeze maneuver several times before returning to sex. The most obvious limitation of this technique is that it requires the self-control to stop, pull out and squeeze your penis.
Pelvic contraction during sex. Studies also show that performing the squeeze technique without manual pressure can be effective. Basically, you remain inside your partner but stop the motion of sex and contract the pelvic floor (think of a male kegel). A 2014 study concluded that pelvic floor exercises are a promising remedy for managing premature ejaculation.
Masturbation before intercourse. If There’s Something About Mary taught us anything, it’s that masturbation before a date is common (and that semen looks a whole lot like hair gel). Ben Stiller may have been onto something because research shows that masturbation prior to sex can delay ejaculation. Researchers suggest waiting roughly an hour post-masturbation before attempting sexual activity with a partner.
Exercise
We don’t need to tell you exercise is good for you. But beyond keeping your heart healthy and your mood up, working out may be associated with a lower instance of PE.
One study compared people who engaged in regular physical activity to those who led a mostly sedentary lifestyle. More research is needed, but the findings were promising: PE was less frequent in men who exercised than those who lacked movement in their daily lives.
Therapy
Premature ejaculation isn’t all in your head, by any means. Having said that, the condition can have both physiological and psychological components.
For instance, maybe your self-esteem has taken a hit, which makes you less interested in sex. Or perhaps performance anxiety is holding you back from getting intimate. And some men may overdo it on alcohol, hoping it’ll “diminish their sexual excitement” and allow them to last longer.
Regardless, having what you perceive as a sexual dysfunction can bring up anxiety and low self-esteem. Therapy, with or without your partner, can help.
More research is needed on the topic, as most studies examining the link between psychotherapy and PE are lacking in some way (no control group or a small sample size, for example).
However, the research that exists suggests that a combination of therapy and medication is a promising intervention for PE (and better than drugs alone).
improve performance with doctor-trusted treatments
Are PE Wipes the Best Solution?
There’s much to like about premature ejaculation wipes — they’re easy to use, they’re portable and they work.
Here are a few things to remember about the management of premature ejaculation when deciding if PE wipes are the best solution for you.
PE is divided into two subtypes: lifelong and acquired. Lifelong means it’s happened since your first sexual encounter, and acquired PE (as the name suggests) develops after a period of “normal” ejaculation time. Either way, premature ejaculation treatments (yep, like PE wipes) can help.
PE wipes aren’t your only option. Not about the wipes? We won’t take it personally. Other options for premature ejaculation include oral medication, lidocaine spray, talk therapy or a combination of approaches.
There could be something else at play. Like many common conditions, PE could potentially be a sign of a more significant medical issue. That’s why it’s best to be seen by a healthcare professional.
If nothing else, ongoing premature ejaculation issues can be damaging to your sex life, with some men avoiding sexual activities to prevent embarrassment. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to seek medical attention.
Not a fan of in-person appointments? You can connect with a healthcare provider online through our platform to discuss premature ejaculation treatments.
To learn more about treatment options for PE, check out our guides to paroxetine for PE and surgery options for PE.
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.