Genital and heart rate response to erotic stimulation in men with and without premature ejaculation

Abstract

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.

Clinical and research concerns with vibratory stimulation: a review and pilot study of common stimulation devices

“…Some have argued that sensory thresholds must be lower in men with premature/rapid ejaculation because topical desensitizing agents tend to increase latency to ejaculation (Wyllie & Hellstrom, 2011), but the sensory data do not generally support this interpretation. More data support the possibility of using vibrators to assess premature/rapid ejaculation as evidenced by a shorter latency to ejaculation in those who report difficulty (Rowland, 2010). There is a patent on file (US 6814695: Wyllie & O'Leary, 2004) using a vibratory device to diagnose rapid ejaculation.…”

The impact of premature ejaculation on the subjective perception of orgasmic intensity: validation and standardisation of the ‘Orgasmometer’

“…One may infer that a man not distressed by his prematurity regarding ejaculation does not perceive a reduced orgasmic intensity. Apart from the cognitive interpretation of this phenomenon, other theories have been focused on the earlier sympathetic activation characterising men with PE, rather than the earlier parasympathetic action (Motofei & Rowland, 2004;Rowland, 2010). Physiologically, the parasympathetic system activates in an earlier phase of the sexual response, in order to guarantee the initiation and support of penile erection.…”

The heart rate recovery is impaired in participants with premature ejaculation

“…Xia et al (2014) used penile sympathetic skin response test to evaluate ANS anomalies and found increased SNS activity in patients with PE. In another study performed in a laboratory environment, the patients in the PE group had higher heart rate under visual sexual stimulation compared with the control group (Rowland, 2010). Tipping the equilibrium of sympathetic and parasympathetic systems towards sympathetic system may lead to an increase in heart rate and PE (Rowland, 2010).…”

“…In another study performed in a laboratory environment, the patients in the PE group had higher heart rate under visual sexual stimulation compared with the control group (Rowland, 2010). Tipping the equilibrium of sympathetic and parasympathetic systems towards sympathetic system may lead to an increase in heart rate and PE (Rowland, 2010). In this manner, ANS dysfunction may have similar effects on both the cardiovascular system and ejaculation.…”

“…Data on the relationship between PE and ANS dysfunction are limited. There are studies evaluating autonomic dysfunction of individuals with PE by looking at their heart rate variability (Zorba et al, 2012) and heart rate response to visual sexual stimulation (Rowland, 2010) with 24‐hr rhythm Holter recordings. These data suggest that there may be a relationship between PE and autonomic dysfunction.…”