EMLA Cream

EMLA Cream is a treatment for premature ejaculation. It comes as a white, oil-based cream that you put straight onto your penis before sex. EMLA Cream numbs the area, reducing sensitivity so you can last longer in bed.

Generally a local anaesthetic, EMLA Cream is an off-label treatment for premature ejaculation.  A clinician will only prescribe you an off-label treatment if they believe the medication is going to be useful and safe. We know EMLA is safe and effective for premature ejaculation: it’s just that the makers of the cream don’t have a licence approved specifically for this use.

There are two active ingredients in EMLA Cream, lidocaine and prilocaine. They’re both local anaesthetics that work for premature ejaculation by numbing the skin on the penis and reducing sensitivity. This allows you to last longer before ejaculating.

Lidocaine and prilocaine both temporarily numb the skin they’re applied to by interfering with how the ions in the nerve cells work. This stops the nerve cells from sending as many messages to the brain, so you register less sensation.

What doses of EMLA Cream are there?

EMLA Cream only comes in one dose, which is 2.5% lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine. You can get it in 5mg tubes and 30mg tubes, depending on how much you want at once. The best dose of EMLA Cream clinically is thought to be 0.2mg, which is just a pea sized amount.

Follow your clinician’s instructions on how exactly you should use EMLA Cream.

• Follow your clinician’s instructions on how exactly you should use EMLA Cream. If it’s your first time using the tube of EMLA Cream, you’ll need to pierce it with the outside of the cap
• Apply a pea-sized amount of EMLA Cream to the underside of your penis. If you have a foreskin, you’ll need to pull it back first.
• After 10-20 minutes, clean the EMLA cream off your penis and wash your hands thoroughly.

For premature ejaculation, EMLA Cream usually takes 10-20 minutes to fully work. So you’ll want to apply it before initiating sex with your partner, giving it time to start working.

The numbing effects of EMLA cream last for up to three hours when applied. The less you apply, the quicker the effects of the cream will wear off. Since you don’t want your penis to be completely numb during sexual activity, you only need to use a small amount.

What should I do if I make a mistake while using EMLA Cream?

Don’t apply EMLA Cream to broken or irritated skin. It’s important not to get EMLA Cream in your eyes, nose, mouth, ears or anus. If you use too much EMLA Cream, you should talk to your clinician.

Try and remember to remove EMLA Cream after 10-20 minutes. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards too. It’s important that you remove all the EMLA Cream from your penis before having sex. Otherwise it might numb your partner’s sensation too. Because EMLA Cream is oil-based, it can also damage latex condoms and stop them from providing effective contraception.