A new system can purportedly help the one in three men who experience PE. Prolong is an FDA-cleared program that helps you train yourself to last longer by masturbating with a special device. It costs a hefty $299 for the gadget, guidebook, and some lube, but the company alleges Prolong can help fix your PE problems in just six weeks.
"Over your six-week training program, the studs and vibrations combine to fine tune that over-sensitive sweet spot under the head of your penis just enough to hand you the reigns to your climax," its website — a sexual health platform called Smiling Dick — promises.
A small-scale study on 58 men found that Prolong helped extend guys' ejaculation time from 48 seconds to almost nine minutes, on average. While those results may sound too good to be true, experts say this product might just work.
But first, here's how Prolong works.
Typically, guys have relied on behavioural therapy, exercises, medications, or condoms to help them last longer.
The Prolong program incorporates a traditional PE treatment known as the stop-start technique— or repeatedly masturbating until just before the point of climax, then stopping. Using the device, customers practice the stop-start technique for several weeks until the penis is less sensitive to stimulation.
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
- Gently massage the penis with the device — and use lube
- Remove the gadget before climaxing, so your body gets acclimated to resisting ejaculation
- Repeat steps one and two until you’ve completed three rounds
- After the third round, you can finally let yourself come
- Repeat the first four steps three times a week, for six weeks
So Is It Legit, or What?
Most likely yes, according to Florida-based urologist Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt. He explains to MensHealth.com that Prolong makes sense theoretically, though he's never seen the product in person.
Brahmbhatt likens the process to a massage; at first the constant vibration could be painful, but over time, you adjust and become desensitised.
"The deeper and deeper the massage goes, it doesn’t hurt as much," he says. "Your body gets used to it."
The same is true for your penis.
Vibration from the Prolong device enhances stimulation, and when paired with the stop-and-start technique, it ideally builds up your tolerance for pleasure.
The doctor does have a few concerns about Prolong. He’d like to see larger, independent studies documenting its success, as well as feedback on potential risks, like allergic reactions or the dangers of becoming too desensitised. And of course, he cautions it should only be used as advised. If men don't experience PE, "then they should be cautious using this product thinking it will make them last longer," Brahmbhatt warns.
How does it stack up against current treatments? For starters, it's probably safer than some over-the-counter solutions, like "buying supplements from a gas station," Brahmbhatt points out.
As for that $299 price tag? The doctor wouldn't be surprised if there's a market for pricey gadgets like Prolong's, but he points out that there are other, cheaper ways to treat PE — like the stop-start technique, or even having more sex. It just depends on what your preference is.
"You could get a cheap pedometer for 50 cents or you can get an Apple Watch," he says. "They’re all going to get you to the same goal, but it’s all depends on what your cup of tea is."
This article originally appeared on Men's Health
