Ejaculation latency times and their relationship to penile sensitivity in men with normal sexual function

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Sexual Medicine
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Objective measurement of sexual function parameters like ejaculation latency time (ELT) and penile sensitivity is crucial for clinical assessment.
• Existing methods for evaluating these parameters lack standardization and validation, particularly in men with normal sexual function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normal ranges and repeatability of ELT through masturbation (at home and in the lab) and intercourse.
• To determine the threshold and repeatability of penile sensitivity using vibrometers on six distinct penile surface areas.
• To investigate the correlation between penile sensitivity and ELT in healthy adult males.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-eight healthy male volunteers (aged 20-40) participated in the study.
• Ejaculation latency time (ELT) was recorded during three distinct sexual activity scenarios.
• Penile sensitivity was assessed using a biothesiometer and an SMV-5 vibrometer on six penile surface areas.

Main Results:

• Ejaculation latency time (ELT) varied significantly across conditions, being longest during intercourse (median 8.25 min) and shortest during masturbation (median 4.89 min).
• ELT measurements demonstrated high within-subject reproducibility (ICC 0.88–0.93), despite considerable inter-subject variability.
• Vibrotactile thresholds for penile sensitivity were consistent and highly repeatable between two different vibrometers (ICC 0.81–0.96) across all tested penile areas.
• No significant correlation was found between penile sensitivity thresholds and ejaculation latency time (R² < 8%).

Conclusions:

• Laboratory ELT is lower than intercourse ELT but higher than masturbation ELT.
• Vibrometers provide reliable and repeatable measurements of penile vibrotactile thresholds.
• Penile sensitivity, as measured by vibrotactile thresholds, does not correlate with ejaculation latency time in men with normal sexual function.