Experts break down 13 ways to last longer during sex after study reveals the average time for men

Having a romantic evening end early after things get a bit too hot and heavy is not an unheard of experience for most men, and for some, it can be an all too common occurrence.

Finding ways to improve your performance in the bedroom and last longer in the lovemaking arena is never a bad idea, as not only will your sexual partner thank you for it, but you won't be left making awkward excuses for finishing the interaction sooner than planned.

There are plenty of techniques you can try to prevent this embarrassment, but it is also important to remember that this can happen to anyone. Urologist Dr Thomas Walsh said to Men's Health that 'Premature ejaculation is a problem that affects almost every man at some point in his life' - so try not to worry about it too much.

But this common male dysfunction does not have to become persistent, and there are at least 13 exercises and preparations that you can do to keep going. Just remember though, fellas, it's not just about you reaching completion.

Premature ejaculation does not have to mean the end of a sexual encounter; in fact, it's probably a good signal for you to calm things down a bit. Taking some time to focus on your partner might turn an awkward situation into a good save.

A medical diagnosis of this problem would require you to frequently last less than a minute, though a 2005 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that most couples last around five and a half minutes - so if you're somewhere around this ballpark, you might just need to try some new techniques.

If you want to figure out how to prevent a premature end to sex entirely and take control, there are more than a dozen things you can try. The first and most important, according to Men's Health, is exercising your pelvic floor.

Taking some time to regularly strengthen your pelvic floor can give you better control over your pipes, and the exercise is really easy. Kegels, where you tighten and release these muscles in quick succession, can be done almost anywhere.

It exercises the same muscle group used when you stop and start urinating. So practice by holding and then releasing these muscles for 10 seconds at a time, preferably not while urinating.

Multiple studies have shown that this can have a positive impact on people struggling with erectile dysfunction, with the exercise sparking an improvement in 80 per cent of sufferers.

That isn't the only advice, however.

You're also encouraged to stop thrusting all the time! Going from 0 to 60 might seem like fun, but it's probably making your struggle even harder. Try to hold back and spend more time making the experience pleasurable for your partner, as it will give you the space to cool off.

Or do something else entirely. There are plenty of fun things two people can do without full penetration, which most research shows will only bring around one in five women to orgasm.

If it's getting too much, change something. Rather than just drilling away, you might want to consider switching things up a bit, try a different position or do something that gives you some time to cool off.

In that vein, find a position where you can last longer. You might have your favorites, but if you barely get to experience them, what's the point? Having your partner sit on top with very little in-and-out motion can be great for anyone with a clitoris, and give you a bit of a breather.

You could even practise a bit by yourself. Try preventing your moment of completion when masturbating, commonly called edging. This can help train your brain to better control your moment of orgasm and prevent it from hitting you out of the blue.

Another common technique is called 'the squeeze', where you take a tight grip below the head of your penis with extra pressure applied to the urethra, which runs up the underside of your genitals.

Then there is the age-old strategy to last longer, simply masturbating before you have sex, so that you're not so sensitive. “Sometimes ejaculating too quickly is due to the fact that you’re all riled up and haven’t ejaculated recently, which means your prostate is fully engorged,” proctologist Evan Goldstein told Bespoke Surgical.

You might even just be wearing the wrong condom, which will typically make you last longer anyway. There are lots of condoms on the market aimed at making you last longer, whether through being extra thick or having a small amount of numbing gel on them.

If you're having no luck, you can always try using an anaesthetic wipe to reduce your sensation. Though you will have to be careful in how you apply it, or you might end up numbing your partner, too.

The last solution is perhaps the most boring and the most useful, while also being three tips in one. Stop drinking booze, smoking cigarettes, and lead a healthier lifestyle. Sad, I know, but if you want to be firing on all cylinders, you have to think about what you are putting in the gas tank.

More than two-thirds of regular drinkers with penises report sexual dysfunctions, while smoking cuts the levels of nitric acid in your system, thought to be a contributor to erectile dysfunction. According to experts, cutting these vices and getting in more regular exercise will get you more in tune with your body and improve your bedroom performance.