What is edging? Stop-start and squeeze techniques to last longer

Edging means getting close to orgasm, stopping before you go over the edge, then starting again. Some people simply enjoy it, and some men may use it to last longer. The stop-start and squeeze techniques, which the NHS describes for premature ejaculation, work on the same principle of stopping before the point of ejaculation.

This guide explains what edging is, how the stop-start and squeeze techniques work step by step, as the NHS and the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) describe them, and what the research says about how well they work.

What does edging mean in the bedroom?

In the bedroom, edging means bringing yourself or a partner close to orgasm, then stopping before you reach it, often several times over. The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) defines it as stopping sexual stimulation before reaching orgasm to prolong a sexual experience. The name comes from approaching the "edge" of orgasm without going over it.

SMSNA gives three reasons people may try it. It can make sex last longer, and men with premature ejaculation might use it for that. It may give people more time to explore what they and a partner like. And some people feel it brings more pleasure and more intense orgasms; the ISSM also says some people find their eventual orgasm more intense with edging.

Is edging the same as the stop-start technique?

Edging and the stop-start technique use the same move: stopping stimulation before the point of ejaculation, pausing, then starting again. "Stop-start" (the NHS calls it "stop-go") is the name used when the method is taught for premature ejaculation, and the squeeze technique adds a squeeze of the penis during the pause.

The ISSM's patient advice on delaying ejaculation mentions edging alongside the stop-start and squeeze methods. Semans described the stop-start technique in 1956, and Masters and Johnson developed the squeeze method in 1970. The ISSM's 2014 guidelines say both were designed to help men recognise the middle levels of arousal.

Edging, stop-start and squeeze compared

	What you do.	Where it comes from.
Edging	Stop stimulation before you reach orgasm, then start again, often several times	A sexual practice, as SMSNA defines it
Stop-start (stop-go)	Stop when you are about to ejaculate, wait about 30 seconds, then start again; repeat until you are ready	Described by Semans in 1956; taught for premature ejaculation
Squeeze	Stop before the point of ejaculation, squeeze the head of the penis for 10 to 20 seconds, wait another 30 seconds, then start again	Developed by Masters and Johnson in 1970; taught for premature ejaculation

Steps as the NHS, the ISSM and SMSNA describe them. The NHS says the techniques may sound simple, but they require lots of practice.

How to do the stop-start technique

To do the stop-start technique, stimulate yourself until you're close to ejaculating, stop for about 30 seconds, then start again, repeating this until you're ready to finish. The steps below follow the ISSM's patient advice:

1. Stimulate your penis in whatever way feels good, on your own or with a partner.
2. When you think you're about to ejaculate, stop for about 30 seconds.
3. Start again, and when you're close again, stop for another 30 seconds.
4. Repeat until you feel ready to orgasm.

The NHS describes practising while masturbating first and, once you feel more confident about delaying ejaculation, trying the technique during sex, stopping and starting as you need to.

It can be built up in stages. The ISSM's 2014 guidelines describe a series of graduated exercises: starting with self-stimulation, moving on to stimulation by a partner's hand, then to intercourse without movement, and finally to stopping and starting during sex. The ISSM says this process gradually leads to a longer time to ejaculation, more sexual confidence and better self-esteem, although few controlled studies support that claim.

How to do the squeeze technique

The squeeze technique adds one step to stop-start: when you're close to ejaculating, you stop and squeeze the head of your penis for 10 to 20 seconds, then let go, wait 30 seconds and start again. As the NHS describes it:

1. Masturbate, and stop before the point of ejaculation.
2. Squeeze the head of your penis for 10 to 20 seconds.
3. Let go, and wait another 30 seconds before starting again.
4. Repeat this several times before you let yourself ejaculate.

Advice on exactly where to squeeze varies a little. SMSNA says to squeeze where the head of the penis meets the shaft until the urge to ejaculate passes, while the ISSM says to squeeze the tip gently. Either you or a partner can do the squeeze, according to the ISSM.

The NHS says these techniques may sound simple, but they require lots of practice. A psychosexual therapist can teach them: in psychosexual counselling, the NHS explains, a therapist helps you, and a partner if you have one, with sex-related problems, and shows you techniques such as squeeze and stop-go.

Does edging make you last longer?

Edging-style techniques can help some men last longer, but the evidence is limited. Research has tested them under their clinical names, stop-start and squeeze, mostly in small studies with little long-term follow-up. The 2026 European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines call the evidence for these psychosexual treatments weak and inconsistent, and say their long-term results are unknown.

A 2015 systematic review found 10 randomised trials with 521 participants in total. Two trials that compared squeeze, stop-start and sensate focus (explained in our guide to sexual performance anxiety) with a waiting list reported differences of 7 to 9 minutes in the time from penetration to ejaculation. Two others, testing a web-based sensate focus course and a stimulation device, found no difference.

The same review found that techniques combined with medicine beat medicine alone in three trials, though the differences in time were small, at half a minute to a minute. It concluded that there is limited evidence that these techniques improve time to ejaculation compared with a waiting list, and it rated the overall risk of bias as unclear.

A 2011 Cochrane review called the evidence for psychological treatments of premature ejaculation weak and inconsistent, and noted that Masters and Johnson's early success rate of 97.8% could not be repeated. The ISSM's 2014 guidelines say other studies have found success rates of 60% to 90% and that there is some evidence these treatments work, but they add that most outcome studies are uncontrolled and unblinded.

The EAU says evidence suggests stop-start exercises, combined with education about the condition and mindfulness, improve the symptoms of premature ejaculation and the distress, anxiety and depression that can come with it, though it also says psychosexual treatment alone lacks empirical support. It says medicine must be considered the first-line treatment for lifelong premature ejaculation, and it makes a weak recommendation to use behavioural, cognitive or couple therapy alongside medicine. The options are compared in how to stop premature ejaculation: every treatment compared.

How can a partner help with the stop-start technique?

A partner can take part at every stage, if you both want to. The ISSM's graduated programme moves from practising alone to a partner's hand and then to sex itself. The NHS says it's usually recommended to involve your partner as much as possible if you're seeking treatment for problems with your sex life, and that communicating your concerns can often go a long way to helping to resolve them.

Not every couple takes to these techniques. A 2006 trial noted that couples can be averse to them: some women were reluctant to do the squeeze, and some couples were unwilling to interrupt sex once it had started. The trial also tested a newer approach, in which men learn to control their arousal without stopping, and found significant improvements in the duration of sex, sexual satisfaction and sexual functioning, with similar results for the classic techniques.

Is edging bad for you?

SMSNA describes edging as a safe sexual practice that may have benefits for some people and couples. If you want to try it with a partner, it suggests talking about it first: repeatedly stopping and starting may be enjoyable for one person but tiring or tedious for another, and it should be consensual and enjoyable for both of you.

What else can help you last longer?

The NHS says it can sometimes help to masturbate an hour or two before sex, use a thick condom, or have sex with your partner on top, so they can pull away when you're close to ejaculating. The ISSM adds mindfulness, which it says some men find helpful: putting your focus on the sensations of sex and on your breathing, to stay "in the moment" and lower your arousal.

Distraction, thinking about something non-sexual, is another option the ISSM mentions.

Pelvic floor exercises are covered in our guide to Kegel exercises for men, and how to last longer in bed brings every option together.

When should you see a GP?

See a GP if finishing too quickly keeps happening and it's a problem for you. The NHS says occasional episodes are common and not a cause for concern, but if it happens more than you'd like, it might help to get treatment; your GP will discuss it with you and may examine you or refer you to a specialist.

The ISSM says not to hesitate to talk to your doctor, as there are medical treatments, including medicines and sex therapy. Our guide to premature ejaculation explains what counts.

See a GP or go to a sexual health clinic if erection problems keep happening: the NHS says it might be a sign of a health condition that can be treated. Sexual health clinics are free and confidential, and you can find one with the NHS sexual health clinic finder.

See a GP, too, if you notice blood in your semen. The NHS says that in most cases it's not serious and passes within a few days, but your GP can check whether you need tests or treatment.