The relationship between the second-to-fourth digit ratios and lifelong premature ejaculation: a prospective,...

Area of Science:

• Andrology
• Human Sexuality
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction.
• Fetal androgen exposure is hypothesized to influence various physiological and behavioral traits.
• The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is a recognized marker for prenatal androgenic activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential association between fetal androgen exposure and lifelong premature ejaculation.
• To determine if the 2D:4D ratio can serve as a predictor for lifelong PE.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 65 patients with lifelong PE and 65 controls.
• Measurement of the 2D:4D ratio from both hands.
• Assessment of ejaculation function using the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) and self-estimated intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT).

Main Results:

• Patients with lifelong PE exhibited significantly lower mean 2D:4D ratios on both the right (0.964 vs. 0.978) and left (0.966 vs. 0.979) hands compared to controls.
• A significant negative correlation was found between 2D:4D ratios and PEDT scores, and a positive correlation with IELT.
• Lower digit ratios were associated with higher risks of shorter IELT.

Conclusions:

• Increased fetal androgen exposure, as indicated by lower 2D:4D ratios, may be a novel risk factor for lifelong premature ejaculation.
• The 2D:4D ratio could potentially serve as a biomarker for predicting lifelong PE risk.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking prenatal androgens to PE.