Journal Article

Redefining a sexual medicine paradigm: subclinical premature ejaculation as a new taxonomic entity

Colonnello Elena, Sansone, Andrea, Ciocca Giacomo, Limoncin Erika, Jannini, Emmanuele A

2021

Overview

Premature ejaculation (PE) and poor ejaculatory control are multidimensional sexual symptoms estimated to affect almost one-third of men, severely impairing the overall quality of life of patients and their partners. However, patients who do not completely fulfil the definition criteria for PE rarely receive a diagnosis or adequate treatment, with the risk of subsequent progression from initial, subclinical symptoms to clinically overt PE, frequently with other sexual comorbidities. Thus, the current definitions of PE warrant review, in order to consider and propose a new taxonomy encompassing other unaddressed, crucial clinical aspects of PE. These newly proposed criteria include the recommendation for a primary screening for erectile dysfunction (ED), as PE and ED can be comorbid in up to 50% of patients but have never before been considered as a unified clinical entity. In order to facilitate clinical practice and improve clinical management of men with PE and comorbid conditions, we propose and define the new taxonomic clinical entities of subclinical PE (SPE) and loss of control of erection and ejaculation (LCEE). Application of these diagnoses to men who meet the criteria for SPE and/or LCEE, but not the overt conditions, could improve access to treatment for these patients and reduce progression to the more serious clinical disorder.Premature ejaculation is thought to affect up to one-third of men, but a considerable proportion of patients do not meet the diagnostic criteria and do not, therefore, receive treatment for their symptoms. In this Perspectives article, the authors propose a new taxonomy for premature ejaculation, to encompass the subclinical disorder and its co-occurrence with erectile dysfunction, with a view to improving patient management.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Comorbidity / Erectile dysfunction / Taxonomy