The one place where many men do not want to finish first is in the bedroom. You may have even found yourself in an embarrassing situation where you got too excited, and it was all over before it even began. Over the years, solutions to treat premature ejaculation (PE) have included topical desensitizing agents in the form of a spray or cream; today, the product “Promescent,” claims to help men last longer in bed, while closing the orgasm gap with just a spritz.

"Many of my patients express that they don't last as long as they'd like to in bed, including those who don't suffer from the medical definition of premature ejaculation, or PE, which is ejaculating within one minute of penetration," said Dr. Ian Kerner, a sexuality counselor and bestselling author of She Comes First, in a statement.

In a study published in the International Journal of Impotence, Kerner and Dr. Kristen Mark, a sex and relationships researcher at the University of Kentucky, found Promescent increased the average time from penetration to ejaculation to 11.16 minutes, compared to 6.81 minutes when it was not used; a difference of 64 percent. Moreover, 66 percent of sexual events led to both partners having an orgasm when Promescent was used, versus 44 percent when the product wasn't used. Previous research shows men take an average of five minutes to reach orgasm during intercourse, while women take an average of 18 minutes, leading to less sexual satisfaction for both partners.

“Our findings support that Promescent is effective in improving event-level sexual quality and increasing the frequency of both members of the couple experiencing orgasm. Both of which can help couples feel more satisfied with their sex lives,” said Mark.

The topical spray contains the active ingredient lidocaine, a local anesthetic that works by desensitizing the penis without numbing it, to help men better control their orgasm. Promescent comes in the form of a metered-dose spray bottle that allows men to manage the amount they need based on their level of sensitivity. The product should be applied ten minutes prior to sexual activity — but, it will not transfer during sexual activity to ensure partners will not experience a decrease in sensation.

Researchers believe there are two neuro-biological functions in men that dominate the time to ejauclation. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that stabilizes mood and balances any excessive excitatory neurotransmitter firing in the brain, can greatly affect the onset of ejaculation. Urologists have prescribed off-label selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly called SSRIs and used routinely for depression, to increase serotonin levels in the brain and, therefore, reduce the symptoms of PE. However, they come with numerous side effects — including loss of libido.

Penile stimulation is the other neuro-biological function that affects PE. The more stimulation, the faster a man reaches ejaculation.

Kerner believes Promescent can help solve these bedroom woes that are common in 30 percent of men, making PE more prevalent than erectile dysfunction. Promescent is primed to do for PE what Viagra does for ED, and is the first FDA-approved, over-the-counter spray to treat premature ejaculation.

In October 2016, Promescent will be available at all Target and Rite Aid stores nationwide. Currently, it’s available for purchase via the company’s website and on Amazon.com for $19.95 pocket trial size and $79.95 standard metered-dose bottle.

Source: Mark KP and Kerner I. Event-level impact of Promescent on quality of sexual experience in men with subjective premature ejaculation. International Journal of Impotence Research. 2016.