Estimations of Typical, Ideal, Premature Ejaculation, and Actual Latencies by Men and Female Sexual Partners of Men During Partnered Sex

Abstract

Background The ejaculation latency (ELT) criterion for men with premature ejaculation (PE), including its 2 major subtypes of lifelong and acquired, relies heavily on expert opinion, yet such information represents only one source of data for this determination; furthermore, information regarding ELTs for PE within specific subgroups of men (eg, gay, bisexual) has been lacking. Aim To obtain data regarding men's lived experiences and expectations regarding typical ejaculation, ideal ejaculation, and PE and (for men) self-reported ejaculatory latencies during partnered sex across a variety a groups, including men vs women (ie, sexual partners of men), men with and without PE, and straight vs gay/bisexual men. Methods We recruited 1,065 men and sexual partners of men, asking them to estimate typical ejaculation, ideal ejaculation, and PE and (for men) self-latencies through an online survey posted on social media. Demographics, sexual identity, and sexual response data were also collected. Results Typical and self-reported ELTs were closely aligned with those reported in the literature, with ideal ELTs generally longer than typical ELTs. Median PE ELTs were consistently estimated around 1.5 min, with nearly all subgroups—men vs women; straight vs gay; PE and non-PE men—showing alignment on this criterion. Men with lifelong PE did not differ from men with acquired PE in either their PE ELT estimation or their self-reported ELT. Clinical Implications The data support the idea of extending the latency cutoff for establishing a PE diagnosis beyond the current 1-minute threshold. Strengths & Limitations A large sample size drawn from a multinational population powered the study, whereas the use of social media for recruitment and lack of inclusion of lesbian and asexual individuals may have missed relevant data from some who have had sexual experience with men. Conclusion Straight and nonstraight men do not differ in their ELT estimations. In addition, the use of different ELT criteria for lifelong vs acquired PE may be unnecessary.

Diagnostic Criteria for Premature Ejaculation: Clarifying the Role of “Ejaculatory Control” and “Bother/Distress”

“…The great majority of men with PE (86%) also reported the desire to last longer during partnered sex. Even so, 37% of men without PE desired this same outcome, a finding consistent with previous analyses in which estimations of the ideal EL in a sample of men were consistently longer than estimations of the typical EL, usually by around 5-7 min [21,22]. The longer ideal vs. typical EL in that study, and the general desire to last longer in the current study by both PE and non-PE men, suggest that many men, even those with normal-range ELs, see benefit to either themselves or their partners (or both) in being able to prolong sexual intercourse.…”

“…Specifically, together with other recent research indicating similarities between men with lifelong and acquired PE [28], our study has shown that these groups do not differ in either their (lack of) control over ejaculation or their level of PE-related distress. In addition, self-reported ELs do differ between men with lifelong and acquired PE [22], generally around 1.5 min for both groups.…”

“…This analysis was part of a more extensive survey designed to address multiple questions regarding sexual response and PE, with other analyses focusing on issues related to ejaculatory latency [21] and worldwide similarities and differences in ejaculatory latency, control, and bother/distress [22]. Only the outcome measures and group/organizing variables used in this analysis are included here.…”

“…Such findings question whether, specifically, the distinction of the 1-min vs. 3-min thresholds (for lifelong vs. acquired PE) suggested by the ISSM definitions should be reconsidered, and perhaps more generally, whether the differentiation between men with lifelong and acquired PE has been overestimated. One approach might consider extending the latency criterion for any type of PE to 2 min [22]. This suggestion is supported by a number of other studies investigating ELs in men with PE, often reporting median latencies in the 1.5-2.5 min range, e.g., [9,10,29].…”

“…The ISSM and APA criteria for PE-originally derived from data based on heterosexual intercourse [1][2][3]-have general applicability to gay and non-straight men in terms of ELs, as self-estimated ELs for straight, non-straight, and gay men do not differ (whether or not they have PE) [22]. However, bother/concern about (lack of) ejaculatory control may be less of an issue for gay men, where rapid ejaculation may impact sexual satisfaction less.…”