Is Premature Ejaculation All In The Mind?

13 January 2005
Is Premature Ejaculation All In The Mind?
by George Atkinson

The World Health Organization says that half of all men aged between 40 and 70 have sexual dysfunction. Premature ejaculation is one of the most common forms of dysfunction experienced and it can be caused by either psychological factors or underlying medical conditions.

Now, Irwin Goldstein, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, will chair a controversial debate on the topic of treatment at the annual conference given by the Sexual Medicine Society of North America.

In favor of psychological treatment for premature ejaculation are Michael Perelman, PhD and David Rowland, PhD. Dr. Perelman is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Reproductive Medicine, and Urology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Dr. Rowland currently serves as editor of the Annual Review of Sex Research. James Barada, MD, Director of the Albany Center for Sexual Health and Culley Carson, MD, Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Urology at the University of North Carolina, will argue in favor of medical therapy.

Premature ejaculation has for a long time been considered a psychological disorder, due to factors such as societal pressures, emotions, and psychological or physical control. However, many question this and cite various physical conditions that may contribute to or be linked to premature ejaculation. Some success has been reached with treatment by medical therapies, such as anti-depressants. New therapies, including those that raise serotonin, are currently being developed to treat premature ejaculation.