Intermittent premature ejaculation: exploring an understudied phenomenon

Although the lifelong and acquired subtypes of premature ejaculation (PE) have long been acknowledged, other putative PE subtypes have garnered less consideration.

This study aimed to describe a potentially unrecognized form of PE characterized by episodic or intermittent symptomology rather than regular, consistent symptomology.

From an online sample of 409 men with PE, 31 identified as specifically having intermittent PE (IPE) rather than either lifelong PE (LPE) or acquired PE (APE). Data regarding PE symptomology-including lack of ejaculatory control, foreplay time and estimated ejaculation latencies (ELs) during PE episodes, foreplay time and estimated ELs during non-PE episodes, and other sexual characteristics-were collected to better describe and understand this group of men.

Determination of sexual and ejaculatory response characteristics of men with IPE.

Men with IPE exhibited PE-typical responses during 40%-90% of their partnered sex episodes (mean ≈ 70%). Depending on the type of partnered sex, mean EL responses during PE episodes ranged from anteportal ejaculation to ~2 minutes, whereas mean EL responses during non-PE episodes ranged from ~3 to 6.5 minutes (P < .001). EL comparisons were also made across types of partnered sex and masturbation.

Some men exhibit PE-like symptoms, but do so only episodically or intermittently, a pattern that would technically prevent them from receiving treatment for PE according to most professional PE definitions.

This study is the first to detail the sexual and EL characteristics of men who experience PE intermittently. The limitations include issues regarding generalizability due to the relatively small sample size and the inherent bias possible in online studies about sexuality.

Men with IPE show all the characteristics of men with LPE and APE, except in the consistency with which their symptoms are manifested. Such men would qualify for treatment under ICD-11 guidelines but not under other professionally based diagnostic criteria.