Premature ejaculation affects 20% to 38% of men, making it among the most common forms of male sexual dysfunction worldwide. Overactivity of these nerves has been implicated as a cause of premature ejaculation.
Treatment options include certain antidepressants such as Celexa (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline), as well as anesthetic ointments and cream, and behavioral therapies. Unfortunately, many men aren’t helped by the treatments.
A new technique involves inserting a tiny, hollow needle into the skin near the belly button. The doctor snakes the hollow needle down to one of the penile nerves, which is knocked out by freezing the nerves. It’s not painful, though some men feel a cold sensation.
Researchers tested the technique on 24 men who hadn’t been helped by standard treatments. They lasted an average of 110 seconds before ejaculation, or nearly two minutes, over the three months they were followed, compared with 36 seconds before treatment.
These findings were presented at a medical conference. They should be considered preliminary, as they have not yet undergone the “peer review” process, in which outside experts scrutinize the data prior to publication in a medical journal.
SOURCES:
Radiological Society of North America 97th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, Chicago, Nov. 27-Dec. 2, 2011.
J. David Prologo, MD, assistant professor, interventional radiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland.
