Men’s health issues are important factors affecting individual, family health indices, and even social harmony. Among male sexual dysfunctions, premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the most common diseases, with an incidence rate as high as 20-30%.
PE affects the quality of life of both partners and the patient themselves, leading to a decrease in marital satisfaction, causing anxiety, depression, embarrassment, mental distress in patients, and impacting the marital relationship. Therefore, timely and appropriate standardized treatment methods are particularly important clinically. The exact causes of the disease are still unclear, often related to factors such as partners, polymorphisms in genetic genes, psychological factors, and organic lesions.[1]
So, how is PE professionally defined?
If ejaculation occurs within 1 minute after entering in 75%-100% of sexual encounters for more than six consecutive months during previous sexual activities, and causes personal distress or pain, it is called PE.
Common misconceptions about PE:
Not satisfying the female means PE: Men and women have significant differences in speed and process. Men may get excited quickly, have a short process, and may end within two minutes or a few minutes, akin to a quick victory. While women get excited slower, generally requiring ten minutes or even longer. Fast speed in newlyweds means PE: Newlywed men are in a “sexual hunger” phase, and newlywed couples who have just entered married life generally do not quickly achieve a mutually satisfactory and harmonious state, needing gradual adjustment. Fast speed in prolonged absence of marital life is PE: Physiologically, the speed and the length of time between marital activities are directly proportional. Hence, those with infrequent marital relations tend to ejaculate quickly, while for those with frequent marital relations, the time tends to be slower. The diagnostic criteria for PE are only applicable to those with a stable partner, regular marital life lasting at least six months, and the occurrence of short durations in safe, private settings.
Viewing from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective:
It was first mentioned in “Differentiation Record, Zhong Si Men”: “When a man has extreme slippery essence, as soon as he reaches a woman’s door, ejaculation occurs, making it difficult to maintain happiness, and ejaculation occurs very thinly.” Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that this disease is mostly due to the dysfunction of the heart, liver, and kidney, leading to the loss of control over the essence’s containment. Modern scholars believe it is due to the inefficient liver drainage and the kidney’s failure to seal and preserve, leading to the lack of control over the essence and semen leakage, resulting in premature ejaculation when in contact.
Clinically, Warm Kidney Sulafu tablets, a commonly used Chinese patent medicine, are used to alleviate it. The prescribed medicine contains ingredients that nourish the heart and blood and can be used for premature ejaculation caused by yang deficiency. Before using traditional Chinese medicine for treatment, a proper diagnosis based on traditional Chinese medicine principles is necessary.
Other methods:
Western Medicine + Traditional Chinese Medicine: Solely relying on traditional Chinese medicine treatment tends to have lower patient compliance and insufficient treatment persistence. Solely relying on Western medicine treatment might lead to symptom recurrence upon discontinuation and come with some unavoidable side effects. What about combining the two? Further clinical exploration has shown that combining Western and Traditional Chinese medicine therapy for PE yields more precise treatment. In general, a combination of Dapoxetine and Warm Kidney Sulafu is commonly used clinically for relief. Lifestyle improvement: Maintaining good lifestyle habits, having the right perspective on sexual activity, focusing on body conditioning, and increasing physical exercise. Reference: [1] Yang Ruilin, Li Zhanxiang, Ye Xuying, et al. Clinical Research on “Progressive” Behavior Therapy Combined with Drug Treatment for Premature Ejaculation under the Concept of “Treating Both Husband and Wife, Both Physically and Mentally” [J]. Chinese Journal of Sexology, 2020, 29(6):13-17. DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1672-1993.2020.06.004.
