Premature ejaculation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Rheumatology
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the spine.
• Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction with various classifications.
• The relationship between AS and PE has not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of premature ejaculation (PE) in male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
• To compare PE rates and intravaginal ejaculatory latency times (IELT) between AS patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study included 50 male AS patients and 50 healthy controls (NHC).
• Data collected included patient demographics, AS disease characteristics (duration, BASFI), and medication use.
• PE was diagnosed using medical and sexual history, classifying patients into lifelong, natural variable, acquired PE, or premature ejaculatory dysfunction, supplemented by self-estimated IELT.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of PE was 32% in AS patients and 30% in NHC, with no significant difference (p = 0.331).
• Average estimated IELT differed significantly between PE (10,009 ± 51.9 sec) and non-PE groups (145.26 ± 43.01 sec) (p = 0.000).
• Lifelong PE patients had lower mean IELT, while premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction patients had the highest IELT (p = 0.000).

Conclusions:

• Premature ejaculation (PE) occurs in men with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at a prevalence comparable to the general population.
• No significant difference in PE prevalence or syndromes was observed between AS patients and healthy controls.
• Further multi-centered studies with larger cohorts are needed to confirm these findings.