
Disclaimer: This article is not intended as medical advice and was not written by a medical professional. It is based solely on my experience of using delay sprays to help with premature ejaculation.
Have you recently bought a delay spray or are thinking of trying one? If so, you might have a few questions about using it correctly.
I think it’s important to start off by saying that not all delay sprays and creams work the same way. Many are quite similar, but there are often very important differences.
That’s why it’s important to check the instructions they come with, and the manufacturer’s website. There is, of course, a small problem with that in some cases: not all sprays have a dedicated website with instructions.
There are many generic lidocaine sprays for sale online that have limited instructions. That’s why in my opinion it’s better to stick with the brands which have a dedicated team behind them, rather than a generic product with a cool name, but no support.
A standard way to apply a delay spray
If the spray you’ve bought doesn’t have clear instructions, you have three choices: either try and find instructions, leave it and find a different product, or experiment by following the standard instructions other products give.
You’ll see below that I’ve tried to address some key points to consider based on both my personal experience, combined with the information provided by some of the most well-known delay spray companies – Promescent, Super Dragon 6000, Stud 100, Dynamo Delay, Adam & Eve, and Fortacin.
Most lidocaine and benzocaine sprays will work in a similar way to the ones I’ll refer to in this article. However, it’s important to stress that if you follow these instructions for a different product, or one with different ingredients altogether, you do so at your own risk.
1. Start slow
My preference is to start with just one spray, so you can check if your skin will tolerate the ingredients. Most people tolerate them fine, but in my opinion if you’re going to spray your penis, it’s worth being cautious.
And if you find that just one or two sprays works for you, the product will last longer and you’ll save money.
This is the advice the companies give about the number of sprays:
- Promescent: apply 3 sprays or more, but no more than 10.
- Stud 100: apply 3 to 5 sprays.
- Super dragon: apply 2 sprays.
- Adam & Eve: apply 2 to 5 sprays.
- Dynamo: 1-3 sprays, and no more than 10.
- Fortacin: 3 sprays. No more than 9 in 24 hours. Leave 4 hours between each set of 3.
Ideally, you should be able to find the minimum number of sprays that works best for you, and then repeat that number when you next need to. Some men may need one, others five – you just won’t know until you try the product.
2. Target the right area
You can get conflicting advice on where exactly to spray. I think the best thing is to experiment and spray on the most sensitive parts of your penis, not to just cover it all. If you do, there’s a higher chance you’ll numb yourself too much. That can result in erection loss, or just not enjoying the sex as much.
Here’s what the companies say:
- Promescent: the underside of the penis head, and some on the underside of the shaft.
- Stud 100: head and shaft of the penis.
- Super dragon: the head.
- Adam & Eve: head and shaft of the penis.
- Dynamo: head and shaft of the penis.
- Fortacin: the head after retracting the foreskin.
Once you’ve sprayed it, gently rub it in until it appears to be absorbed. This shouldn’t take more than 10-20 seconds to achieve, though maybe longer if you rub it into the shaft as well as the head.
And again, with some experimentation, you should be able to find which part of your penis needs targeting, and which you can leave alone.
3. Flaccid or erect?
It doesn’t matter if you apply it when flaccid or erect. It will work equally well, so it’s up to you to decide what works best for you and your partner.
4. How long before sex to spray?
Different sprays have different timings. None of them allow you to have sex immediately after spraying though. There’s always a waiting time to make sure it’s absorbed and is working, and also so it doesn’t transfer to your partner.
- Promescent: 5-10 minutes.
- Stud 100: 5-10 minutes.
- Super dragon: 5 minutes.
- Adam & Eve: 5 minutes.
- Fortacin: 5 minutes.
- Dynamo: 5-10 minutes.
So you can see that 5-10 minutes is a pretty safe bet if you’re using a lidocaine or benzocaine spray.
5. Do I need to wash it off before sex?
This is probably one of the main areas of confusion, since the companies rarely tell you exactly what they mean by wipe/wash off the excess. Do you use a cloth, water, soapy water, straight away, just before sex?
Here’s what I think is a good idea to do:
- Spray and gently rub it in. Note that Fortacin don’t say to rub it in, just to spray and wait. Some sprays don’t drip so you don’t need to rub them in. Others do advise rubbing it into the skin once you’ve sprayed.
- Wait for the recommended time, usually 5-10 minutes.
- Wipe off any excess with a damp cloth or tissue. Even if you can’t see any excess, you might want to give it a wipe anyway.
- Wash your hands.
The washing bit is confusing as no company is totally clear about what to do. Personally, I think it’s good to experiment. I find a quick wipe after rubbing in helps remove most excess.
Then a wash or even a shower once the time for absorption has elapsed can help ensure there’s no transference to your partner. The good sprays definitely still work even after a lengthy hot shower in my experience, so there’s no need to worry about the effect not being there.
6. Wash your hands
Very few companies mention this, but those that do say it’s important. You should wash your hands after applying it to make sure you don’t transfer it to your partner, or get it in other sensitive areas such as the eyes.
7. How long will the delay spray last?
This very much depends on the person and the spray. In my experience, most of them keep you numb for at least an hour.
8. Can you choose to have unprotected sex or use a condom?
This again depends on the spray, so it’s important to check with the manufacturer.
- Promescent: both are ok.
- Stud 100: both are ok, but you should use latex condoms.
- Super dragon: both are ok.
- Adam & Eve: both are ok – use latex condoms.
- Dynamo: they don’t specify.
- Fortacin: both are ok. But for condoms, you can’t use a latex-free female or male condom made of polyurethane.
9. Can you have oral sex?
Once again, some say yes and others that it’s best to avoid it. The reasons usually being a bad taste or the risk of transference to your partner.
- Promescent: yes, as long as you wash it off before.
- Stud 100: yes, but wait up to 15 minutes first.
- Super dragon: no because the taste might be unpleasant.
- Adam & Eve: can’t find information about this.
- Dynamo: yes as long as you wash it off first.
- Fortacin: they don’t say. But they do say to take care if you accidentally numb their mouth.
10. Can you use it if you’re trying to get pregnant, or already are pregnant?
Most sprays advise against using them if you’re trying to get pregnant, or if your partner already is pregnant. Here’s a helpful quote from the Promescent website:
lidocaine has not been proven to be safe to use in pregnancy. We recommend to err on the side of caution
The Stud 100 website also says not to use it if your partner is pregnant.
Fortacin has a clear instruction about this:
Fortacin should not be used whilst your partner is pregnant unless you use an effective male condom…Fortacin may reduce the possibility of pregnancy. Therefore, patients hoping to achieve conception should either avoid using Fortacin, or, if this medicine is essential to achieve penetration, should wash the penis as thoroughly as possible five minutes after Fortacin has been applied, but prior to intercourse.
11. How often can you use a spray?
There’s no clear answer to this question, as it will depend on the exact type and quantity of numbing ingredient. Some sprays have instructions about this, but many don’t.
Here are two examples:
- Promescent: no more than 20 sprays in 24 hours.
- Fortacin: no more than 9 sprays in 24 hours, with 4 hours between each use.
12. Can you use a delay spray and viagra type drugs together?
Personally, I would err on the side of caution and ask your doctor for their advice about combining medications, especially if you take any other medication currently.
13. Preventing waste of the spray
A simple way to avoid wasting the spray is to first spray it into a small glass. Then you can dip your finger into the liquid formed and rub it into the area you want to on your penis. This can help prevent waste by the spray missing some of the penis.
The alternative is to spray from close up: 2 to 3 cm away should be fine.
14. What about delay creams?
Although sprays are the most common form of desensitizing product, there are some in cream form. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of creams, as you can never be sure if you’re using the same amount each time. However, with creams you can follow the same standard guidelines above.
15. What to do if you have side effects
Sometimes delay sprays can cause side effects. If that happens, don’t panic – there are a few steps you can take to deal with them.
Take a break
The first thing to do is stop using the spray. If you notice redness, irritation, or a burning sensation, it’s your skin’s way of telling you it’s had enough.
Wash it off
Wash the area gently with warm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Don’t scrub too hard – just let the water and soap do the work. This will get rid of any leftover spray that might still be causing irritation.
Give your skin time to recover
If your skin feels irritated, it’s best to give it a few days to heal before trying the spray again if you’re determined to give it another go.
Test it first next time
If you’re feeling unsure about trying it again, do a patch test first. Spray a tiny amount on your forearm and wait 24 hours to see if anything happens. It’s not the most exciting thing to do, but it can save you a lot of hassle.
Check the ingredients
Some sprays use lidocaine, others use benzocaine, and they all have other ingredients too. If you’re getting side effects, it might be something in the spray that doesn’t agree with you. If that’s the case, it could be worth trying a spray with different ingredients.
Talk to a doctor if it’s serious
If washing it off doesn’t help and the irritation sticks around, or if you get a more serious reaction like swelling or hives, it’s definitely time to check in with a doctor. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially with something as sensitive as this.
Don’t use it with other products
If you’re using a delay spray alongside other products like lubricants or condoms with added sensations, they could be reacting badly together. Try using just the spray by itself to see if that makes a difference.
Try a different brand
Not all sprays are created equal. If one doesn’t agree with you, it doesn’t mean none of them will. I’ve found that some brands just seem gentler than others, so it’s worth experimenting to find one that suits your skin.
Consider other options
If sprays don’t work for you, that’s ok – there are other ways to deal with premature ejaculation, such as behavioral techniques and exercises.
Side effects aren’t fun, but they don’t mean you have to give up completely. With a bit of trial and error, you can figure out what works best for you and avoid any unpleasant reactions in the future.
You might also like
If you’d like to try a delay spray, take a look at my recommended delay sprays. There are some which either don’t work well or have ingredients which can cause unpleasant side effects. So I recommend seeing what I have to say about them.