Current professional definitions of PE from ISSM, APA/DSM-5, AUA, EAU, and ICD-11, with wording regarding distress italicized and in bold
| International Society of Sexual Medicine |
| A unified definition of both acquired and lifelong PE as a male sexual dysfunction characterized by (i) ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1minute of vaginal penetration from the first sexual experience (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); (ii) the inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and (iii) negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. |
| American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5) |
| A persistent or recurrent pattern of ejaculation occurring during partnered sexual activity within approximately 1 minute following vaginal penetration and before the individual wishes. The symptom must be present for at least 6 months and must be experienced on almost all or all (approximately 75%-100%) occasions of sexual activity and causes clinically significant distress. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress or other significant stressors and is not attributable to the effects of a substance/medication or another medical condition. |
| American Urological Association |
| Lifelong premature ejaculation is defined as poor ejaculatory control, associated bother, and ejaculation within about 2 minutes of initiation of penetrative sex that has been present since sexual debut. Acquired premature ejaculation is defined as consistently poor ejaculatory control, associated bother, and ejaculation latency that is markedly reduced from prior sexual experience during penetrative sex. |
| European Association of Urology (adopted the ISSM definition) |
| Ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1 minute of vaginal penetration (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. |
| International Classification of Disease, 11 edition (World Health Organization) |
| Male early ejaculation is characterized by ejaculation that occurs prior to or within a very short duration of the initiation of vaginal penetration or other relevant sexual stimulation, with no or little perceived control over ejaculation. The pattern of early ejaculation has occurred episodically or persistently over a period at least several months and is associated with clinically significant distress. |
| International Society of Sexual Medicine |
| A unified definition of both acquired and lifelong PE as a male sexual dysfunction characterized by (i) ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1minute of vaginal penetration from the first sexual experience (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); (ii) the inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and (iii) negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. |
| American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5) |
| A persistent or recurrent pattern of ejaculation occurring during partnered sexual activity within approximately 1 minute following vaginal penetration and before the individual wishes. The symptom must be present for at least 6 months and must be experienced on almost all or all (approximately 75%-100%) occasions of sexual activity and causes clinically significant distress. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress or other significant stressors and is not attributable to the effects of a substance/medication or another medical condition. |
| American Urological Association |
| Lifelong premature ejaculation is defined as poor ejaculatory control, associated bother, and ejaculation within about 2 minutes of initiation of penetrative sex that has been present since sexual debut. Acquired premature ejaculation is defined as consistently poor ejaculatory control, associated bother, and ejaculation latency that is markedly reduced from prior sexual experience during penetrative sex. |
| European Association of Urology (adopted the ISSM definition) |
| Ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1 minute of vaginal penetration (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. |
| International Classification of Disease, 11 edition (World Health Organization) |
| Male early ejaculation is characterized by ejaculation that occurs prior to or within a very short duration of the initiation of vaginal penetration or other relevant sexual stimulation, with no or little perceived control over ejaculation. The pattern of early ejaculation has occurred episodically or persistently over a period at least several months and is associated with clinically significant distress. |
Current professional definitions of PE from ISSM, APA/DSM-5, AUA, EAU, and ICD-11, with wording regarding distress italicized and in bold
| International Society of Sexual Medicine |
| A unified definition of both acquired and lifelong PE as a male sexual dysfunction characterized by (i) ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1minute of vaginal penetration from the first sexual experience (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); (ii) the inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and (iii) negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. |
| American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5) |
| A persistent or recurrent pattern of ejaculation occurring during partnered sexual activity within approximately 1 minute following vaginal penetration and before the individual wishes. The symptom must be present for at least 6 months and must be experienced on almost all or all (approximately 75%-100%) occasions of sexual activity and causes clinically significant distress. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress or other significant stressors and is not attributable to the effects of a substance/medication or another medical condition. |
| American Urological Association |
| Lifelong premature ejaculation is defined as poor ejaculatory control, associated bother, and ejaculation within about 2 minutes of initiation of penetrative sex that has been present since sexual debut. Acquired premature ejaculation is defined as consistently poor ejaculatory control, associated bother, and ejaculation latency that is markedly reduced from prior sexual experience during penetrative sex. |
| European Association of Urology (adopted the ISSM definition) |
| Ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1 minute of vaginal penetration (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. |
| International Classification of Disease, 11 edition (World Health Organization) |
| Male early ejaculation is characterized by ejaculation that occurs prior to or within a very short duration of the initiation of vaginal penetration or other relevant sexual stimulation, with no or little perceived control over ejaculation. The pattern of early ejaculation has occurred episodically or persistently over a period at least several months and is associated with clinically significant distress. |
| International Society of Sexual Medicine |
| A unified definition of both acquired and lifelong PE as a male sexual dysfunction characterized by (i) ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1minute of vaginal penetration from the first sexual experience (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); (ii) the inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and (iii) negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. |
| American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5) |
| A persistent or recurrent pattern of ejaculation occurring during partnered sexual activity within approximately 1 minute following vaginal penetration and before the individual wishes. The symptom must be present for at least 6 months and must be experienced on almost all or all (approximately 75%-100%) occasions of sexual activity and causes clinically significant distress. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress or other significant stressors and is not attributable to the effects of a substance/medication or another medical condition. |
| American Urological Association |
| Lifelong premature ejaculation is defined as poor ejaculatory control, associated bother, and ejaculation within about 2 minutes of initiation of penetrative sex that has been present since sexual debut. Acquired premature ejaculation is defined as consistently poor ejaculatory control, associated bother, and ejaculation latency that is markedly reduced from prior sexual experience during penetrative sex. |
| European Association of Urology (adopted the ISSM definition) |
| Ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1 minute of vaginal penetration (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. |
| International Classification of Disease, 11 edition (World Health Organization) |
| Male early ejaculation is characterized by ejaculation that occurs prior to or within a very short duration of the initiation of vaginal penetration or other relevant sexual stimulation, with no or little perceived control over ejaculation. The pattern of early ejaculation has occurred episodically or persistently over a period at least several months and is associated with clinically significant distress. |
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