Definition of Premature Ejaculation by International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM)

Despite the fact that it has long been a major concern for men, an evidence-based definition for premature ejaculation has not existed until now. In October 2007, the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) gathered the world’s leading sexual health experts to develop an evidence-based definition of premature ejaculation. Experts presented the definition to reporters in a special press conference on May 19th at Monday, May 19, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the 103rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA).

The ISSM has defined premature ejaculation as “a male sexual dysfunction characterized by ejaculation which always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about one minute of vaginal penetration; and, inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and, negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy.”

“For something that has such a profound effect on men young and old, there needs to be a definitive measure to diagnose premature ejaculation,” said Ira D. Sharlip, M.D., the study’s main author. “The hope is that more people with these symptoms will understand this is an actual health condition and seek treatment. They no longer need to suffer in silence.”

The ISSM panel of experts agreed that the constructs that are necessary to define PE are: time to ejaculation, inability to delay ejaculation and negative consequences from PE. The panel concluded that the definition could also apply to men with premature ejaculation who engage in sexual activities other than vaginal intercourse, although the definition does not apply to acquired premature ejaculation.

Sharlip ID, Hellstrom WJG, Broderick GA: The ISSM definition of premature ejaculation: a contemporary, evidence-based definition. J Urol, suppl., 2008; 179: 340, abstract 988.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is the pre-eminent professional organization for urologists, with more than 15,000 members throughout the world. An educational nonprofit organization, the AUA pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care by carrying out a wide variety of programs for members and their patients, including UrologyHealth.org, an award-winning on-line patient education resource, and the American Urological Association Foundation, Inc.

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Source: American Urological Association (AUA)