The psychophysiological nature of premature ejaculation

Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1984

Factors hypothesized as being related to ejaculatory latency were evaluated to determine whether they may be implicated in premature ejaculation. Data from 10 premature ejaculators and 14 normal male subjects were gathered utilizing psychophysiological and self-report measures Sexual arousal was induced through a tape-recorded erotic story, erotic slides, and sexual fantasy. At no point did premature ejaculators and normal subjects differ m penile responding or in subjective report of arousal. Groups were not significantly different in their rates of sexual arousal, the absolute amount of sexual arousal shown, nor in the number of sexual situations to which they responded Premature ejaculators, however, appeared to ejaculate at a lower level of sexual arousal. Furthermore, the results support the hypotheses that premature ejaculators have longer periods of abstinence from intercourse and ejaculation and that there is an inverse relationship between period of abstinence from intercourse/ejaculation and ejaculation latency.

Current Sexual Health Reports

Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2001

Researchers investigating premature ejaculation (PE) have employed widely diverse definitions of it, thereby limiting progress in the field. This study summarizes available research on PE, notes patterns that emerge from these studies, compares patterns across several types of studies, and suggests a common model for defining PE groups to guide future research. We surveyed two bibliographic databases, identifying 45 studies employing a definition or description of a PE group. From these, we extracted a range of information, including descriptions of the participants, recruitment procedures, if PE subtypes were identified, operational criteria for PE classification, relationship and partner information, and additional inclusion/exclusion criteria. Over 50% of studies reported no criteria, or relied on simple self-identification by participants to establish the PE group. Quantifiable behavioral criteria were used in 49% of the studies, with ejaculatory latency reported most frequently. This measure was also used as a criterion more frequently in studies focusing on assessment of sexual response, whereas the number of penile thrusts was used more frequently in studies prior to 1989. Partner information was often included but seldom used as part of the assessment procedure. Progress on research and treatment of PE will continue to be limited by the absence of commonly accepted criteria for PE group membership and by a lack of identification of relevant PE subtypes and etiologies. This paper suggests a flowchart, based on data and a rational analysis of 40 years of research, for characterizing PE in ways that could assist the development of the field.

The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2007

Introduction. The authors posit that, among other things, the increasing popularity of pharmacological remedies has reinvigorated research interest in premature ejaculation (PE). However, the authors also posit that the emphasis has shifted from psychological-behavioral studies to biological-pharmacological studies, thereby distracting researchers from potent psychological/relationship factors known to play important roles in the recovery of overall sexual satisfaction. Aim. To explore actual patterns of research on PE, the authors determined trends in the overall quantity and focus of PE research over the past 25 years. Methods. The two major databases, PsychINFO and MEDLINE, were searched from 1979 to 2006 using several key words to identify all PE-related publications. Main Outcome Measures. Referenced articles on PE were cataloged by year and assigned to broad hypothetically and empirically based categories representing different approaches to the study of this dysfunction. Results. MEDLINE, but not PsychINFO, exhibited a large increase in publications on PE over the past decade. Although the number of publications on PE increased only in MEDLINE, the 25-year trend showed a decline in the proportion of psychological behavior articles in both databases and a concomitant rise in biological and pharmacological articles. Conclusions. Although several explanations might account for these research trends, the authors worry that researchers are missing the opportunity to investigate important biobehavioral interactions underlying ejaculatory response and dysfunction, and to augment the current biopharmacological paradigm by integrating cognitivebehavioral and sex therapy programs into pharmacological PE treatment. Rowland D, and Burek M. Trends in research on premature ejaculation over the past 25 years.

The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2005

Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common male sexual dysfunction affecting men and their partners. Lack of community-based data describing this condition limits understanding of PE and its outcomes.

BJU International, 2008

Clinical Psychology Review, 1985

An 180 degree conceptual shift has led to effective intemention strategies for the individual experiencing a sexual dysfunction. Sexual performance impediments are no longer viewed as symptoms of underlying psychopathology with a poor prognosis for remediation. Instead, an increasing number of theorists, researchers, and clinicians view sexual dysfunctions from a more behavioral perspective, conceptualizing the problem in terms of individual learning histories, past and current environmental contingencies, and internallymediated or situationally-based anxiety. The present paper surveys the literature concerning premature ejaculation and addresses the definitional complexity, etiological factors, and current assessment and treatment methodologies. Directions for future research are critically examined. 15, 454-460.

2021

Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common reported sexual complaint in men. It is believed that PE is associated with sexual behavior such as early sexual experience, novelty of partners or frequencies of intercourse. Therefore, to examine the association of PE and sexual behaviors in men, a case-control study was conducted with a total of 418 clients Subjects were interviewed for general health status, sexual behaviors, IELT and requested to complete the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT). DSM-IV-TR criteria were applied for the diagnosis of PE. Those who diagnosed with PE(+) and PEDT score ≥ 11 belonged to the PE group; those diagnosed with PE(-) and PEDT < 11 belonged to the non-PE group. The results indicated that no significant difference was noted regarding demographic features in the 2 groups. Normal men had a more frequent sexual life compared with PE patients (9.71 ± 6.09 and 6.62 ± 5.44 episodes of sexual intercourses per month, respectively with p < 0....

2010

This study compared genital and penile response patterns in men with and without premature ejaculation (PE) so as to identify the potential anomalous psychosomatic relationships among men with PE. Genital and heart rate response profiles of 25 men with PE were compared with those of 13 age-matched sexually functional counterparts during visual sexual stimulation presented in combination with vibrotactile penile stimulation. Although no differences were found between men with PE and controls on maximum penile circumference change, overall penile response was significantly lower in the PE group and PE men who ejaculated during the session exhibited shorter latencies to maximum circumference change. Furthermore, significant differences were found between groups in patterns of heart rate. These findings indicate differences in physiological responses between men with PE and sexually functional counterparts during erectile tumescence and progression toward ejaculation. Such differences might be explained by 'premature' sympathetic activation during the sexual response cycle in men with PE, thereby diminishing parasympathetically controlled penile response and triggering sympathetically mediated seminal emission prematurely.

The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2006

Premature ejaculation (PE) and its individual and relationship consequences have been recognized in the literature for centuries. PE is one of the most common male sexual dysfunctions, affecting nearly one in three men worldwide between the ages of 18 and 59 years. Until recently, PE was believed to be a learned behavior predominantly managed with psychosexual therapy; however, the past few decades have seen significant advances in understanding its etiology, diagnosis, and management. There is, as yet, no one universally agreed upon definition of PE. To review five currently published definitions of PE. The Sexual Medicine Society of North America hosted a State of the Art Conference on Premature Ejaculation on June 24-26, 2005 in collaboration with the University of South Florida. The purpose was to have an open exchange of contemporary research and clinical information on PE. There were 16 invited presenters and discussants; the group focused on several educational objectives. Data were utilized from the World Health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association, the European Association of Urology, the Second International Consultation on Sexual Dysfunctions, and the American Urological Association. The current published definitions of PE have many similarities; however, none of these provide a specific "time to ejaculation," in part because of the absence of normative data on this subject. While investigators agree that men with PE have a shortened intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT; i.e., time from vaginal penetration to ejaculation), there is now a greater appreciation of PE as a multidimensional dysfunction encompassing several components, including time and subjective parameters such as "control,"satisfaction," and "distress." There is a recent paradigm shift away from PE as a unidimensional disorder of IELT toward a multidimensional description of PE as a biologic dysfunction with psychosocial components.