The Comorbidity Between Premature Ejaculation and Erectile Dysfunction-A Cross-Sectional Internet Survey.

Area of Science:

• Sexual medicine
• Urology
• Psychology

Background:

• The relationship between premature ejaculation (PE) and erectile dysfunction (ED) remains unclear.
• Understanding their comorbidity is essential for effective sexual health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and comorbidity of PE and ED in a Taiwanese population.
• To explore the association between PE and ED with psychological factors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 937 men aged 20-60 years with stable sexual relationships.
• Validated questionnaires assessed intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), PE, ED, self-esteem, relationship quality, anxiety, and depression.

Main Results:

• Prevalence rates were 24.7% for ED, 6.3% for PE, and 6.4% for IELT ≤1 minute.
• Significant associations were found: participants with ED had higher PE prevalence (19.5% vs 2.0%), and those with PE had higher ED prevalence (76.3% vs 19.4%).
• Adjusted odds ratios indicated a strong link: OR=12.7 for PE predicting ED, and OR=7.2 to 36.7 for ED predicting PE, with increased psychological distress in comorbid cases.

Conclusions:

• A high prevalence of PE and ED coexistence was confirmed, highlighting a complex interplay between these conditions.
• The findings underscore the importance of screening for both PE and ED concurrently in clinical settings.
• Psychological factors like poor self-esteem, relationship issues, anxiety, and depression are more prevalent in men with PE and/or ED.