Hope for men affected by ‘overlooked’ sexual issue

Published: 26 June 2024 at 15:42

Study examines remedies for delayed ejaculation, which affects up to 3% of men

It is hoped new research will assist clinicians in helping millions of men who suffer from an overlooked sexual complaint, despite no medications approved by regulators in the UK currently being available.

The study, led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and published in the journal Trends in Urology and Men's Health, is the first to collate research into different methods of treating delayed ejaculation, which is believed to affect between one and three per cent of men.

The condition is summarised as the persistent difficulty or inability to ejaculate despite the presence of adequate sexual desire, erection, and stimulation. Currently, there is no medication approved by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulations Agency (MHRA), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to treat the condition. However, researchers found a number of promising remedies in their analysis.

Researchers examined papers from 13 different countries dating back to the 1970s and found that several treatments have been effective, including vibration stimulation therapy, and psychotherapy. Use of a cream containing capsaicin and vanilloid, in a randomised clinical trial, showed promise in the treatment of delayed ejaculation.

Delayed ejaculation is a condition that can vary significantly between patients, and researchers surmised that clinicians should also be aware of a patients full medical and sexual history, carry out a detailed physical examination and assessment of the partner view of the disorder, partner sexual dysfunctions and the overall satisfaction with the sexual relationship.

Lee Smith, Professor of Public Health at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: