Moving Toward Empirically Based Standardization in the Diagnosis of Delayed Ejaculation

Area of Science:

• Sexual medicine
• Urology
• Psychology

Background:

• Current delayed ejaculation (DE) criteria include long ejaculation latency (EL), lack of ejaculatory control, and associated distress.
• Few studies have examined these criteria in men desiring quicker ejaculation during partnered sex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To standardize DE criteria by understanding characteristics of men who wish to ejaculate sooner.
• To analyze their EL, ejaculatory control, bother/distress, and perceptions of typical/ideal ELs and those associated with premature ejaculation (PE).

Main Methods:

• 572 men completed an online survey on their EL, perceived control, bother/distress, and general/PE EL perceptions.
• Four groups were formed: probable DE (with/without control issues), a reference group (no ejaculatory disorders), and men with PE.

Main Results:

• Men with probable DE had ELs twice as long as the reference group.
• DE men with control issues (DE2) showed greater differences compared to the reference group in EL and ejaculatory control, but not bother/distress.
• Both DE and reference groups differed significantly from the PE group.

Conclusions:

• Ejaculation latency (EL) and ejaculatory control are key differentiators for diagnosing delayed ejaculation (DE).
• Bother/distress levels did not significantly differentiate DE from controls.
• Findings support empirically based standardization for DE diagnosis.