Effects of a New Functional-Sexological Treatment for Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is the most-prevalent sexual problem in men. Various treatments have been developed to increase control over the moment of ejaculation, with two of the most frequent techniques used in behavior therapy being the squeeze method developed by Masters and Johnson (1970) and the "stop-and-start" technique described by Semans (1956). These treatments are effective and improve matters in most cases. However, couples can be averse to using them, with some women reluctant to squeeze their partner's penis and some couples unwilling to interrupt sexual interaction once initiated. Under a new functional-sexological treatment intended to improve control over the moment of ejaculation, men learn how to control their arousal without having to interrupt sexual activity. In this study, we compared three groups of couples in which the man suffered from premature ejaculation. One followed the new functional-sexological treatment, another followed a behavioral treatment--including the squeeze and stop-and-start techniques--and a control group was placed on a waiting list. We used several questionnaires to assess the effects of the various treatments. Moreover, subjects provided an objective measure of duration of intercourse from penetration to ejaculation. These measures were taken pre- and posttreatment and at three-month follow-up. We ran analyses of variance to assess the effects of the treatments. Results indicate that the new treatment is very effective. We observed significant improvements in duration of intercourse, sexual satisfaction, and sexual functioning. The subjects in the behavioral treatment group obtained similar results. Furthermore, subjects from both groups were satisfied with their respective treatment.