Ejaculation Latency Times and Their Relationship to Penile Sensitivity in Men With Normal Sexual Function

Received 9 February 2006

Refers to article:

Effect of Acute Dapoxetine Administration on the Pudendal Motoneuron Reflex in Anesthetized Rats: Comparison With Paroxetine
F. Giuliano, J. Bernabé, P. Gengo, L. Alexandre, P. Clément
The Journal of Urology
January 2007 (Vol. 177, Issue 1, Pages 386-389)
Abstract | Full Text | Full-Text PDF (156 KB)

Purpose

There is a need for objective and validated measurements of ejaculation latency time and penile sensitivity in men with normal sexual function. We determined 1) the normal range and repeatability of ELT in a laboratory vs at home masturbation and intercourse in normal men, 2) the threshold and repeatability of penile sensitivity on 6 penile surface areas measured by 2 vibrometers and 3) whether penile sensitivity correlates with ejaculation latency time.

Materials and Methods

A total of 58 healthy volunteers between 20 and 40 years old provided ejaculation latency times during 3 procedures and were evaluated with a biothesiometer and SMV-5 vibrometer (Suzuki-Matsuoka, Teknologue, Tokyo, Japan) on 6 penile surface areas.

Results

Ejaculation latency time was highest during intercourse (median 8.25 minutes, range 1.32 to 18.31), lower in the laboratory (median 7.22, range 1.37 to 18.79) and lowest during masturbation (median 4.89, range 1.08 to 14.19). The 3 ELT scores were highly reproducible within subjects (ICC 0.88 to 0.93). There was high variability among subjects. Vibrotactile thresholds on 6 penile surface areas were also similar and highly repeatable for the 2 vibrometers (ICC 0.81 to 0.96). However, there was no correlation between penile sensitivity and ELT (R2 less than 8%).

Conclusions

ELT in the laboratory is lower than during intercourse and higher than during masturbation. Vibrometers produce reliable and repeatable penile vibrotactile threshold results. However, penile sensitivity measurements do not correlate with ELT in men with normal sexual function.

Key Words: penis, ejaculation, masturbation, coitus

Abbreviations and Acronyms: ELT, ejaculation latency time, ICC, intraclass correlation coefficient

a Department of Physiotherapy, Arteveldehogeschool, Leuven, Belgium

b Department of Urology, University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium

c Ghent and Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science, Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium

d Department of Urology, University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium

e Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium

f Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium

Correspondence: Department of Physiotherapy, University Hospital, Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium (telephone: 0032 (16) 34.85.50).

Study received approval from the University of Ghent hospital medical ethics committee.

For another article on a related topic see page 386.

⁎ Equal contribution.

PII: S0022-5347(06)02176-8

doi:10.1016/j.juro.2006.08.071

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