INCREASED PREVALENCE OF PREMATURE EJACULATION SYMPTOMS IN MEN WITH MILD SEVERITY ERECTILE DISFUNCTION

Erectile dysfunction (ED) severity, based on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), is classified as follows: no ED (score 22–25), mild (17–21), mild to moderate (12–16), moderate (8–11), and severe (5–7). Men with mild ED often report partial rigidity during intercourse and premature ejaculation (PE) as a primary concern. This study assessed PE across IIEF-defined ED severity categories to evaluate the correlation between ED and PE.

A total of 228 men, with a mean age of 42.56 ± 9.09, and an IIEF score range of 5 to 21 (indicating severity of ED from severe to mild), were screened for PE symptoms using the Premature Ejaculation Profile (PEP) questionnaire. A PEP validation score of >5 points was considered significant.

Patient distribution by ED severity was as follows: mild (n = 89, 39%), mild to moderate (n = 56, 24.5%), moderate (n = 59, 26%), and severe (n = 24, 10.5%). PEP validation scores indicated PE prevalence across the 4 groups: mild (62.3%), mild to moderate (23.4%), moderate (10.9%), and severe (5.6%). Among men with mild ED, PE severity scores were distributed as follows: 5-10 points (23.9%), 10-15 points (45.6%), and 15-20 points (30.5%). Interestingly, over two-thirds of men with mild ED presented initially with PE symptoms, often attributed to semi-rigid erections, without recognizing underlying ED. Following ED treatment, only 24.7% of men with mild ED and PE continued to report moderate PE symptoms.

It is crucial to evaluate for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men presenting with premature ejaculation (PE), as semi-rigid erections are often a significant contributor to secondary PE. Mild ED is frequently underreported and may be misattributed to PE.

No conflict of interest.