New survey shows the destructive effects of premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation (PE), possibly the most common sexual disorder in men, remains an embarrassing and even taboo subject which ruins sex lives, damages self-confidence and threatens relationships.
That's the verdict of a revealing new survey suggesting that half of men with the condition feel it is their fault and that they are a failure because of it. One in three men suffering from PE feel angry, ashamed or depressed because of it. A quarter of men admitted that this loss of confidence extended outside the bedroom.
EMHF President Dr Ian Banks who helped guide the research said: 'Even in the 21st century where sex is often openly discussed, particularly in Europe, premature ejaculation remains a taboo subject. As this survey reveals, there is still very much a stigma associated with having premature ejaculation. The negative impact of PE, not just on sex life, but also on a person’s self-esteem, self-confidence and the consequent disruption within their relationship can certainly prevent people from talking – and ultimately taking action about PE, as this survey clearly demonstrates.'
The survey ‘PE Confidential’ was developed by Janssen-Cilag EMEA with support from European sexual health and men’s health patient support groups, including the European Men’s Health Forum, the European Sexual Health Alliance, and the Information Centre for Sexuality and Health in Germany.
Over 4,500 men and women from nine countries (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, UK, France, Finland and Sweden) were questioned. The survey found many men and women suffering in silence.
Over half of men with admitted had never spoken to anyone about their condition, not even to their partners. This silence lasted over 25 years in some cases.
70% of the partners of men with PE had never spoken to anyone about their partner’s PE, not even their partner.
A significant number of men and partners had never even looked for information on PE from sources such as websites.
Over half of men with PE are not satisfied with their sex life (and 44% of their partners)
A third of men felt that they were growing apart from their partner because of the impact of PE.
Only one in ten men hadspoken to a healthcare professional about the condition. Of those who had not spoken to a healthcare professional, almost half say it is because they are too embarrassed, whilst 28% of men did not think PE was a condition that a doctor could do anything about.
PE can be treated
Irem Hattat, President of the European Sexual Health Alliance, the European umbrella group for sexual health patient support groups, said: 'Premature ejaculation is a sexual health problem like any other and can be overcome successfully. We would encourage any man who has PE or their partner to speak to either a doctor or their local sexual health support group, who can provide trustworthy information and the right advice, support and solutions. The first step in dealing with PE is talking about it, and the advice we would give to men to overcome the hurdle of any type of sexual disorder is to talk about it, particularly with their partner. This can often be the first step in being able to find a solution about a sensitive and often awkward topic in order to help improve couples’ sex lives and the strength of their relationships.'
The ‘PE Confidential’ Survey also highlighted cultural variations in the way that men from different countries deal with PE. Men from the UK were revealed to be the most reluctant to speak about PE, with 71% reporting they have never spoken to anyone about it. Spanish men appeared to be the most open in discussing their condition, with 63% reporting they have talked about their PE.
German and British men are most unhappy with their sex lives because of PE, whilst French men and partners feel that PE has a slightly stronger impact on their relationship compared with couples from other countries.
PE Facts
PE consists of three major components: a short time to ejaculation, lack of control over ejaculation and negative personal impact or distress related to ejaculation.
It is believed to be the most common sexual disorder in men, estimated to affect one in five men (20-25%), at some point in their lives.
Itis recognised as a medical condition by leading health organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM), the American Urological Association (AUA) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
