Does Cialis Make You Last Longer in Bed?

Written by
The Manual Team
Medically approved by
Dr Earim Chaudry
Last updated
19th August 2021

In 30 seconds

Does Cialis make you last longer in bed? Recent studies have suggested that the drug’s active ingredient, Tadalafil, might have some efficacy in delaying orgasm. However, Cialis is not a licensed treatment for premature ejaculation and should not be used as such.

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a condition that may affect up to a third of men. Yet, its precise cause is not known, with scientists suggesting anxiety, childhood trauma, and oversensitivity as possibilities. Research has shown that those with erectile dysfunction (ED) are more likely to experience PE too – perhaps because they are rushing to ejaculate before they lose their erection.

In this way, Cialis may help men suffering from ED-related premature ejaculation. However, there’s not yet any certainty that it will work – neither in this case, nor in any other instance of PE.

Cialis and Premature Ejaculation 

Alongside Viagra, Cialis is one of the most famous treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) on the market. The active ingredient that it contains, Tadalafil, works on a chemical level to inhibit an enzyme (PDE5), thereby relaxing the smooth muscles of the blood vessels supplying the penis. This increases the chances that you’ll be able to achieve and sustain an erection. 

It’s a tried and tested mechanism that is effective for the treatment of ED in over 80% of cases. However, its efficacy for other male sexual dysfunctions is not so clear. Unfortunately, that includes premature ejaculation, a condition that, by some estimates, is as common as ED.

In this article, we’re going to be answering the common question often asked of Cialis. So, does Cialis make you last longer in bed? Let’s take a look.

What is Premature Ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation – or PE – is a condition that is more common than you probably realise. Estimates of the number of men struggling with a diagnosable condition range from one in five to almost 40%, whilst many more men are likely to report dissatisfaction with their sexual endurance – whether they have the condition or not.

This is likely to be the result of the fact that we seriously overestimate the amount of time men last – and the optimal time that sex should last itself. According to one study, the average time a man can have penetrative sex without orgasming is just over five minutes. Meanwhile, anything less than one minute is generally considered to constitute PE. If the speed of orgasm is frustrating or is accompanied by other negative feelings, this may be PE too.

Unlike erectile dysfunction, the causes of PE have not yet been fully clarified. Whilst some clinicians believe it is related primarily to a psychological cause, others have pointed to physiological factors. And this uncertainty obviously has its ramifications for treatment: no single effective cure has yet been found.

It’s this fact that has caused men to wonder whether Cialis, Viagra, and other erectile dysfunction treatments can be used to manage PE. And that’s why we’re considering the question today.

Can Cialis Help You Last Longer in Bed?

Unfortunately, the answer to the question may not be the one you were looking for. Cialis is not licensed as a treatment for premature ejaculation – and, as a result, it is not advised that you take it for this purpose.

This is because Cialis has not been shown in clinical trials to be a reliable treatment for the condition. The first laboratory experiment into Tadalafil’s possible treatment of PE, in 2010, did not show results that were statistically significant. A more recent study, meanwhile, did find that Cialis lengthened the time that men went before ejaculating. However, the results here were self-reported, which may compromise the accuracy of the data.

The trouble with much of the research into the link between Tadalafil and PE is that it has not been carried out in a reliable way. As one review of studies into the effect of Viagra and Cialis on PE observed, 13 out of 14 studies available were flawed. The final study included in the review did not find any positive effect of the drug in easing the condition.

As such, it cannot be reliably said that Cialis can help with PE. However, it can help you to last longer in bed in one important way. If you are not lasting as long as you would like because you cannot keep an erection, these erectile dysfunction treatments can help – as that is exactly what they are designed for.

Premature Ejaculation and Erectile Dysfunction

What should be stressed, though, is that men with erectile dysfunction seem to be much more likely to struggle with premature ejaculation. According to one study, as many as half of men with ED might suffer from the condition – and Cialis can help with this too.

It’s thought that the coincidence of the two conditions may be due to the fact that men with ED are more likely to rush to finish, so as not to lose their erection. Similarly, performance anxiety related to ED is thought to contribute to the condition too – as negative feelings and stress can intervene in and disrupt the normal processes of arousal. This can, in turn, provoke a vicious circle in which further anxiety builds and the symptoms become exacerbated.

If you feel like you are in this position, Cialis, Viagra, and other ED treatments can help. Men taking these drugs have been found to have greater confidence, reduced anxiety, and higher levels of satisfaction resulting from sex. This can itself boost the time that you last before ejaculating – whilst making you more at ease with sex no matter how long you last.

Cialis (Tadalafil)

The weekend pill

Known as the “weekend pill” because it is effective for up to 36 hours, Tadalafil is the generic, unbranded version of Cialis. Clinically proven to help you get an erection when you need it.


Best for
Weekend use
Effective in
Effective in 8 out of 10 men
Dosage
2.5mg, 10mg, 20mg

Key Takeaways

So, does Cialis make you last longer in bed? It can indeed – but only if you are struggling with sexual endurance as a result of difficulties achieving an erection. If you don’t last as long as you would like because you cannot keep an erection, then Cialis can help. It can help if you are rushing to ejaculate due to ED-related anxiety too.

However, Cialis is not a cure for premature ejaculation in itself and should not be treated as such. Scientific studies have not shown that it can reduce sensitivity or delay orgasm. 

References

  1. Robert M Coward and Culley C Carson (2008). Tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2643112/

  2. Hartmut Porst, Francesco Montorsi, Raymond C Rosen, Lisa Gaynor, Stephanie Grupe, Joseph Alexander (2007). The Premature Ejaculation Prevalence and Attitudes (PEPA) survey: prevalence, comorbidities, and professional help-seeking: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16934919/

  3. Chris G. McMahon (2007). Premature ejaculation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2721550/

  4. Marcel D. Waldinger, MD, PhD Paul Quinn, PhD Maria Dilleen, MSc Rajiv Mundayat, MSc Dave H. Schweitzer, MD, PhD Mitradev Boolell, MD (2005).ORIGINAL RESEARCH—EJACULATION DISORDERS: A Multinational Population Survey of Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time: https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(15)31189-9/fulltext

  5. Arie Parnham1 and Ege Can Serefoglu (2016). Classification and definition of premature ejaculation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5001991/

  6. Ravi Philip Rajkumar, MD and Arun Kumar Kumaran, MD (2014). The Association of Anxiety With the Subtypes of Premature Ejaculation: A Chart Review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4318671/

  7. Ahmet Gökçe Fikret Halis Abdullah Demirtas Oguz Ekmekcioglu (2010). The effects of three phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors on ejaculation latency time in lifelong premature ejaculators: a double‐blind laboratory setting study: https://bjui-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2010.09646.x

  8. M. Abu El‐Hamd (2018). Efficacy and safety of daily use of tadalafil in treatment of patients with premature ejaculation: A randomised placebo‐controlled clinical trial: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/and.13005

  9. CHRIS G. McMAHON CHELSEA N. McMAHON LIANG JOO LEOW CHRISTOPHER G WINESTOCK (2006). Efficacy of type‐5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the drug treatment of premature ejaculation: a systematic review: https://bjui-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06290.x

  10. E O LaumannA NicolosiD B GlasserA PaikC GingellE MoreiraT WangGSSAB Investigators’ Group (2005). Sexual problems among women and men aged 40-80 y: prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15215881/

  11. A D Seftel, J Buvat, S E Althof, J G McMurray, H L Zeigler, P R Burns, D G Wong (2009). Improvements in confidence, sexual relationship and satisfaction measures: results of a randomized trial of tadalafil 5 mg taken once daily: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19536128/

While we've ensured that everything you read on the Health Centre is medically reviewed and approved, information presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.

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