Prescribed by UK clinicians · CQC registered

EMLA cream for premature ejaculation

EMLA is a cream containing two local anaesthetics, lidocaine and prilocaine. It's licensed for numbing the skin before procedures, and some clinicians prescribe it off-label for premature ejaculation.¹

From £14.30 a month

Check your eligibility →

CQC registered
UK-registered clinicians
Plain, discreet delivery

All content on this page has been medically reviewed by Naeem Teni, Clinical Lead. GPhC 2215591.

What is EMLA?

A clinician reviews your assessment before anything is prescribed, and is there if you have questions along the way.

How does EMLA work?

It reduces sensitivity. The anaesthetics dull the nerve endings where the cream is applied, which can help delay ejaculation.¹
Only where it's applied. It works locally on the skin, so it doesn't affect the rest of your body in the same way a tablet does.
Off-label, explained. EMLA isn't licensed for PE. Clinicians can still prescribe it when they judge it right, and will explain how to use it.
Protect your partner. Wash it off or use a condom before sex, so the cream doesn't numb your partner too.

Couple relaxing together under a blanket on the sofa

How much does EMLA cost?

Your clinician sets the strength. The bigger the pack, the less each one costs.

Strength

5%

1 cream£14.30

2 creams£20.98

Plain white cream tube on a bathroom shelf

How do I use EMLA?

Your clinician sets the amount. They'll tell you how much to use, and when.
Apply before sex. Follow your clinician's timing, so it has time to work.
Wash off or use a condom. So it doesn't transfer to your partner.
Only on unbroken skin. Don't use it on broken or irritated skin.¹

Why off-label? EMLA is licensed for numbing skin before procedures, not for PE. Your clinician will explain what that means for you.

How does EMLA compare with other options?

	EMLA	Priligy
Type	Numbing cream	Tablet
In trials	Your clinician will talk this through	0.9 → 3.3 minutes on average²
Key points	Applied before sex, as your clinician advises Reduces sensitivity where it's applied	1–3 hours before sex Acts on serotonin in the ejaculation reflex
Price	From £14.30	From £27.98
	This page	View Priligy →

Is EMLA right for me?

It isn't suitable for everyone. Your assessment covers all of this, and a clinician checks your answers before anything is prescribed.

Usually suitable if

You're an adult (18 or over) living in the UK.
You have premature ejaculation that's bothering you, and you'd rather use a cream than take a tablet.
You're happy for a clinician to check whether anything else is behind it.
A clinician judges it suitable alongside your health history and anything else you use.

Not suitable if

You or your partner has an allergy to local anaesthetics, or to any of the ingredients (lidocaine or prilocaine).
You have broken, irritated or sensitive skin where it would be applied.
Certain skin conditions or other medicines mean a clinician advises against it.
A clinician decides it isn't the right option for you.

Not sure?

Let a clinician check for you

You don't need to work it out yourself. The online assessment asks the right questions, and a UK clinician reviews your answers before anything is prescribed.

Start my assessment →

What are the side effects of EMLA?

Side effects are usually mild and limited to where the cream is applied.¹

More common

Usually mild and short-lived

RednessPalenessItchingWarmth or mild burningToo much numbness

Rare

Get help straight away if

Blue-grey lips or skin, breathlessness or feeling very tired.¹
Swelling of your face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing.
Severe burning or blistering where it was applied.

Using too much? More isn't better. Too much can numb you enough to lose your erection.

EMLA FAQs

Is Manova a proper clinic, or a website?

Both. We’re a CQC-registered clinic that happens to live online. Every prescription is signed off by a registered clinician, never an algorithm.

Will it turn up in a branded box at my office?

No. Plain brown packaging, no Manova branding, no clue what’s inside. Sent to a home or pickup address, your call.

What if the clinician says no?

Then they say no, and you don’t get charged. They might suggest a safer alternative, more tests, or refer you back to your GP. We’d rather lose a customer than push the wrong treatment.

Am I locked into a contract?

No. There’s no contract and no minimum term.

How is this different from going to my GP?

It isn’t, really. The same medicines, prescribed by registered clinicians to the same standards. We’re just faster to get hold of, and a lot less awkward to talk to about the things on this page.

Read up on EMLA

All EMLA guides →

References (2)

EMLA (lidocaine/prilocaine) Cream Summary of Product Characteristics. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC).
Pryor JL, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of dapoxetine in treatment of premature ejaculation: an integrated analysis of two double-blind, randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2006;368:929–937.