Treatment of premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common male sexual disorder, and it may have a profound negative impact on a man and his partner's lives. Different organizations and societies have no consensus on the definition and classifications of PE. However, most organizations and societies include in their definitions the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT), the control of ejaculation, and the distress or impact of interpersonal difficulties. Evaluation procedures have been standardized in clinical studies by the development of an objective measurement of IELT (using a stopwatch) and by the introduction of patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires on ejaculation control and sexual satisfaction. The identification of four different patterns of PE—lifelong, acquired, normal variant, and premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction—is critical because of different underlying pathogeneses and consequently different management approaches. The optimal treatment for PE should be individualized, based on a patient's symptoms, expectations, and underlying variant causes. Most lifelong PE patients need pharmacotherapy (possibly in combination with psychosexual counseling) as a first-line treatment because of the underlying neurobiological etiology and the impact of PE on the couple's relationship. The management of acquired PE is etiologically specific and may include pharmacotherapy for erectile function management in men with comorbid erectile dysfunction (ED). Men with natural variable PE complain of early ejaculation in situational or coincidental conditions; the ejaculation is inconsistent and occurs irregularly. Psychoeducation and reassurance are indicated for men with this type of PE. Psychotherapy or sex counseling is the first choice of treatment for men with premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction. All pharmacotherapies such as long-term selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or on-demand topical anesthetics are off-label indications, The benefits of pharmacotherapy toward improving ejaculation times should be weighed against their safety profiles. The development of the short-acting selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) dapoxetine hydrochloride (30 mg and 60 mg) for oral on-demand use opened a new era of PE treatment. Other potential pharmacotherapies such as tramadol, lidocaine/prilocaine spray, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors are still under development. Their safety and efficacy profiles should be further evaluated and supported by additional clinical studies.