Benzocaine Wipes for Premature Ejaculation: Do They Work?

With so many benzocaine wipes on the market these days, it's tough to know which one is best. Don't worry, we're here to help

Wayne Hellstrom MD, FACS
Board Certified Professor of Urology, past ISSM & SMSNA President
by Wayne Hellstrom MD, FACS Last updated 12/07/2023
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Slow Down Sex to last longer

Ever wish you had a personal slow-motion button specifically for sex?

Don't worry, you're not alone.

Studies show one in three men will likely experience premature ejaculation (PE) at some point in their lives.

Study showing almost 1 out of every 3 men suffer from premature ejaculation

The average time to ejaculation is roughly 5.5 minutes, but men with premature ejaculation often don't make it to the two minute mark.

The truth is, premature ejaculation can be a real problem.

Pro Tip: If you're one of the 1 in 3 men that suffer from PE, then check out Promescent Delay Wipes.

From edging to the squeeze technique, you can find all sorts of tips and tricks online to help delay ejaculation.

One popular, safe, and convenient option to consider is benzocaine wipes, or sometimes referred to as:

  • Penis wipes
  • Pe wipes
  • Desensitizing wipes
  • Numbing wipes

When used properly, these over-the-counter, pre-treated, premature ejaculation wipes can help you last longer in bed.

Expert Insight: Check out the Promescent Premature Ejaculation Guide for insight on a condition that impacts roughly 1/3 or men.

Quick FAQs

Yes, according to a study done in 2017, 100% of men saw an improvement in their ejaculation times after using benzocaine wipes.

Two studies from 2017 and 2019 showed similar results where men using benzocaine wipes reported an average of 166.9 seconds, an increase of about 300%

If used correctly benzocaine wipes should not transfer to your partner.

Benzocaine wipes take about 10 minutes to fully take effect and last for around 30 minutes at full strength, most men report having full sensation back after 90 minutes.

At this point you may be asking yourself:

  • Do benzocaine wipes work?
  • Are they safe to use?
  • Could these wipes really be the key to controlling premature ejaculation?

Let's take a closer look to get your answers.

Do Benzocaine Wipes Work for Premature Ejaculation?

There have been a couple of studies that show promising results for men who suffer from premature ejaculation.

In the first one, the wipes were tested on 15 men in 2017; 6 more men were given a placebo as a control for the study.

Initially, every man included in this study reported:

  • They had little control over when they ejaculated
  • Experienced a great deal of distress because of premature ejaculation
  • Ejaculating in less than two minutes after initial penetration
2017 study showing 100% improvement with PE using benzocaine wipes

All men given the benzocaine wipes saw an improvement in ejaculation time during penetrative sex with a female (an average of 166.9 seconds).

A follow-up study performed in 2019 found similar results.

As an adage, the men given benzocaine wipes in both studies reported:

  • Less intercourse-related distress
  • More control over premature ejaculation
  • Greater satisfaction with sex

So, yes, benzocaine wipes can absolutely help treat premature ejaculation!

What can you expect using benzocaine wipes?

Where regards to performance gains, you can expect to see some pretty noticeable differences in your time to ejaculation.

Keep in mind that every man can have his own unique experience with premature ejaculation solutions.

For example, if you normally hit a climax at about a minute, you may see another 60-seconds or so in gains.

While that doesn't sound like a lot, it's nearly double.

Studies show benefits of extended use of benzocaine for PE can increase over time

In a study performed in 2019, men that reported an average time-to-ejaculation increase of nearly 3 minutes (165 seconds) after 30 days of using wipes with 4% benzocaine.

After 2 months, the effects were even greater at 5.5 minutes (329 seconds). The group of men given a placebo wipe, however, saw no significant changes.

Pro tip: Promescent Delay Wipes contains 7% benzocaine. That's 75% stronger than any other delay wipe on the market.

How to Use Benzocaine Wipes

The premature ejaculation wipes are convenient and simple to use, but it can take a few tries to get it just right.

1. Apply

Start with one benzocaine wipe, rub it on the head and underside of the head, where the penis connects to the shaft (the frenulum)

It's recommended to start here because this is where you have the highest concentration of nerve endings.

2. Wait

Once applied, the benzocaine wipes take about 5 to 10 minutes to be fully absorb into the skin.

This is a great time for foreplay, but be sure to wash your hands with soap and water to prevent numb fingers or desensitizing your partner.

Premature Ejaculation Benzocaine Wipes FAQs

Where can you buy them?

You can buy premature ejaculation wipes through several online retailers including Promescent.

To make sure you get the best benzocaine wipes:

  • Look at the ingredients listed in any product
  • Make sure you are buying from a reputable company
  • Check out reviews from real customers 

Some retail stores also sell premature ejacualtion wipes, but if you prefer confidentiality, then online is the best way to go.

How to choose the best benzocaine wipe for you

How do premature ejacualtion wipes work?

The wipes are made with benzocaine, which is a topical anesthetic most commonly used for things like cold sores and dental procedures.

When you use a premature ejaculation wipe, you are transferring the benzocaine onto the skin of your penis.

The nerve endings just under the skin are sensitive to benzocaine, so when applied, you become desensitized, enabling you to last longer in bed.

How long will the benzocaine wipes last?

How fast benzocaine wipes last and how long they last

How long the desensitization lasts after using benzocaine wipes can vary depending on several factors, such as:

  • Where the wipe is used on the penis
  • How sensitive your nerves are to the numbing agent
  • Your own body chemistry
  • The amount of sexual activity after application

The desensitization will peak at around the ten-minute mark and then start to wane slowly beyond that point.

From there you can expect about 30 minutes of desensitization.

Does the desensitizing effect transfer to your partner?

Your concerns about transferring the desensitizing sensation to your partner are not unwarranted.

Your already trying to last longer in bed for your partner so the last thing you want is to desensitize them.

However, when used as directed, Promescent premature ejaculation wipes, have almost no risk of transference to your partner.

What will your penis feel like after using premature ejaculation wipes?

While benzocaine does offer desensitizing action, the agent does not usually offer complete loss of sensation.

You may initially feel a slight tingling or warming sensation as the desensitizing agent slips into your skin.

From there, you will likely still feel sensation, just somewhat muted allowing you to avoid premature ejaculation.

How Using Benzocaine Wipes Can Help Your Sex Life

Confident man kissing wife after gaining confidence with benzocaine wipes

Obviously, the number one perk of using premature ejaculation wipes is the fact that you can last longer during sex.

Which alone can bring along a lot of secondary benefits, as proven by the aforementioned studies. Things like:

Increased Confidence

When you are slipping into your sexual role in the bedroom and feel like you can actually please your partner, your self-confidence grows automatically.

Further, when you don't have the stress of premature ejaculation weighing on your mind, you can feel more confident about initiating sexual interactions.

Keep in mind, self confidence is one of the traits women rank the highest when considering how attractive a man is in her eyes.

Happier, Healthier Sex Life

Did you know 95 percent of men always orgasm during sex with a female but only a fraction of women have the same experience during sex with a man?

This is what's known as the orgasm gap.

By using premature ejaculation wipes, you are calming the sensitive nerves associated with your heightened state of arousal.

Allowing you to close that gap and last longer in bed, which in turn leads to a happier and healthier sex.

Pro tip: Another great way to help close the orgasm gap is with Warming Female Arousal Gel from Promescent.

Side Effects and Risks of Benzocaine Wipes

Benzocaine premature ejaculation wipes have relatively few side effects and are considered safe when used appropriately.

To ensure the lowest risks of side effects, be sure you:

  • Follow the manufacturer's directions for use
  • Use only what you need
  • Avoid application to irritated or broken skin
  • Don't wrap or heat your penis after application

 

Common side effects of benzocaine

Here is a look at some of the most common side effects associated with topical benzocaine.

1. Skin Irritation

Discontinue use of the benzocaine wipes if you notice:

  • Inflammation
  • Itching
  • Burning or stinging sensations
  • Dryness or flaking skin
  • Skin pain or tenderness
  • Discoloration or redness

If you do experience any of these issues, wash the product off of your penis and hands immediately.

2. Prolonged Desensitization

Usually, prolonged desensitization is a sign you have used too much benzocaine on your penis.

Wash your penis with soap and water thoroughly. You should feel the numbness subside soon after.

3. Methemoglobinemia with Unreasonable Benzocaine Use

Another note to keep in mind, excessive use of benzocaine can lead to methemoglobinemia, which is a blood disorder that can change how oxygen is carried to your cells.

The condition is typically only prevalent among young children exposed to benzocaine and although this condition is extremely uncommon in adults, it is still possible if benzocaine is not used responsibly.

Methemoglobinemia can cause symptoms like:

  • Elevated heart rate
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale skin or lips

If you experience any of these symptoms, discontinue use and seek medical attention.

Review of Benzocaine Wipes

 

Key Takeaways

Couple happy with benzocaine wipe premature ejaculation help

While benzocaine wipes are not a cure-all for premature ejaculation, studies have shown the wipes can definitely help.

While benzocaine is considered relatively safe for skin application, watch out for any side effects.

Be sure to follow guidelines for use, and get to know how the benzocaine  wipes work with your body and be mindful of not inadvertently numbing your partner in the process.

With a little trial and error, you could potentially delay your ejaculation quite significantly.

So, you may just get that slow-mo button effect you've been wishing for during sex.

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Dr. Wayne Hellstrom

Dr. Wayne Hellstrom is a board-certified Professor of Urology and Chief, Section of Andrology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. He works as a urologist at Tulane University, University Medical Center, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center in New Orleans. Wayne received his MD from McGill Medical School followed by a residency there in General Surgery. He completed a residency in Urology at UC San Francisco, and an AUA scholar-funded fellowship in Andrology at the UC Davis. Dr. Hellstrom is the past President of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America and the International Society of Sexual Medicine. He has authored or coauthored over 100 book chapters and more than 500 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.

Sources:

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  • Donald L. Patrick PhD MSPH, Stanley E. Althof PhD, Jon L.Pryor MD, Raymond Rosen PhD, David L.Rowland PhD, Kai Fai Ho PhD, Pauline McNulty PhD, Margaret Rothman PhD, Carol Jamieson BSc. (2005 May). Original Research—Ejaculatory Disorders: Premature Ejaculation: An Observational Study of Men and Their Partners. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1743609515311826. Accessed 27 Jan 2022.
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The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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