Premature Ejaculation Wipes: How They Work & More

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, which contain topical anesthetics like benzocaine and lidocaine, desensitize the penis to help prevent premature ejaculation (PE).

Here, we’ll talk about PE wipes and how they work to help prevent early ejaculation, 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.

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.

Some of these last-longer wipes use benzocaine as a numbing agent (the same topical anesthetic in Orajel). Others contain a mix of benzocaine and lidocaine. There are also delay sprays that work similarly.

Like the little towelettes that come with your hot wings order, Hims Clockstopper benzocaine wipes are wrapped in discreet packaging, pre-portioned, and easy to use.

Premature ejaculation wipes are a portable, hassle-free way to improve sexual satisfaction for you and your partner if you struggle with PE. If you keep a condom in your wallet, you can tuck a wipe packet next to it or stash it discreetly in your nightstand drawer.

Premature ejaculation wipes are for men who cannot maintain an erection long enough for satisfying sexual intercourse. You may benefit from using PE wipes if you struggle with the following symptoms:

• You ejaculate too quickly after penetration. This can be within one to two minutes after inserting your penis or maybe just before penetration.

• You want to learn how to last longer but don’t know how. Maybe you last longer than a minute or two, but not as long as you’d like.

• You are distressed about how early you ejaculate. PE can lower your self-esteem and harm your relationship. The sooner you get help, the sooner you can start having the sex you deserve.

Using PE wipes, aka delay wipes, is easy. Just follow these steps:

• Unwrap it from the disposable sleeve.

• Avoid touching the wipe with your bare hands — it’s safe but might numb your fingers. If you accidentally get some on your hands, no biggie. Just wash thoroughly with soap and warm water.

• 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, especially if you use lube. Applying a personal lubricant too soon to your genitals after using the wipe will defeat the whole purpose.

You may want to try one before masturbation first to get a good idea of how it’ll work during sex.

It might seem almost too good to be true that something as humble as a desensitizing 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.

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. (Hims PE products are not FDA-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), seek medical advice immediately.

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, like lidocaine. 

Climax Delay Condoms

Hims Climax Control Condoms offers an easy way to combine a PE treatment with safe sex. Like PE wipes, these condoms contain benzocaine on the inside and a silky smooth lubricant on the outside. The result is longer-lasting erections and longer-lasting sex.

PE Medications

There’s currently no FDA-approved oral prescription medication 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 squeezing 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’s character may have been onto something because research shows that masturbation before 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).

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 sexual health, 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.