Patient`s perspectives on the burden of Premature Ejaculation

A doctor`s visit is rarely the cause for celebration yet for men suffering from premature ejaculation (PE), a visit to the doctor makes more sense than ever in view of the increasingly available and effective remedies to treat PE.

Indeed,  as Dr. Mariano Sotomayor of the National Autonomous University of Mexico points out in a study entitled The Burden of Premature Ejaculation: The Patient`s Perspective,  PE is "not only a common condition" but one that is a highly "treatable condition" as well.

The problem is that only "a small fraction" of those afflicted with PE actually present themselves to their physician for medical treatment and those that finally seek treatment often do so at stage in which they are desperate for help.  Instead, many men choose to rely on self help techniques such as masturbation before sex or the use of multiple condoms to reduce sensitivity – techniques that may be helpful in the short run – but may, according to the author, "ultimately exacerbate rather than alleviate PE".

So why is it that so many patients with PE often delay or defer medical treatment altogether?   Obviously, the thought of discussing PE with one`s physician – a relative stranger - arouses feelings of embarrassment and shame.  Often, there is a sense of humiliation and inadequacy at not being able to satisfy one`s partner and, not surprisingly, patients with PE often have low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority and dejection.

In addition, most men suffering from PE believe that "the problem" will simply "go away with time" or that PE is "purely psychological" and therefore "there is no need to seek treatment".

According to the author, physicians and other health care providers must be willing to "adopt the patient`s perspective" and help overcome the emotional and psychological barriers by creating a therapeutic milieu conducive to discussing PE in an open and sensitive manner with their patients.   Strategies such as routine screening for sexual dysfunction and adopting language that is sensitive to the broad range of psychological and emotional stress factors associated with PE will go a long way towards assisting those who require treatment to obtain the therapeutic benefits that are readily available.

Physicians who adopt such a perspective will play an important role in breaking down the barriers that now stand between effective diagnosis and treatment. The patient`s challenge will be to identify those health care professionals committed to treating their "patients as people"; those physicians who can see beyond the physical and recognize not only the aches and pains that hurt but appreciate as well the fears and anxieties that eventually may plague us all.

Source: Mariano Sotomayor, MD; The Burden of Premature Ejaculation: The Patient’s Perspective; J Sex Med 2005; Supplement 2

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