- The 'PE CONFIDENTIAL' Survey Reveals the Intense Distress Caused byPremature Ejaculation on Men and Partners
- Stigma and Embarrassment Still Prevent Men With Premature EjaculationFrom Seeking Help and Advice
Today, the first key findings from 'PE Confidential', a uniqueEurope-wide public survey on premature ejaculation (PE), reveal the intense -and in many cases - long years of silent suffering that PE poses on men andtheir partners. 'PE Confidential' also highlights the significant burden thatPE places on couples' relationships and why men are reluctant to seek help,advice and solutions for the condition.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/peconfidentialsurvey/42407/
'PE Confidential' surveyed over 4,500 men and women from nine countries(Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, UK, France, Finland and Sweden) onthe impact of and attitudes towards PE. The 'PE Confidential' research wasdeveloped by Janssen-Cilag EMEA, with support from European sexual health andmen's health patient support groups, including the European Men's HealthForum, the European Sexual Health Alliance, and the Information Centre forSexuality and Health in Germany.
Results from 'PE Confidential' reveal that one in three men sufferingfrom PE feel angry, ashamed or depressed because their PE. Half of men withPE disclosed that they feel guilty the condition is their fault and feel likea failure because of it. A quarter of men admitted they even feel lessconfident outside the bedroom.
Over half of men with PE and 44% of partners whose men have PE reportthey are not satisfied with their sex life. With relationships, a third ofmen feel that they are growing apart from their partner because of the impactof PE.
However, over half of men surveyed admitted that they have never spokento anyone about their condition, not even to their partners. This silencesurrounding PE was found to last over 25 years in some cases.
Dr Ian Banks, President of the European Men's Health Forum who assistedin guiding the research, remarked:
"Even in the 21st century where sex is often openly discussed,particularly in Europe, premature ejaculation remains a taboo subject. Asthis survey reveals, there is still very much a stigma associated with havingpremature ejaculation. The negative impact of PE, not just on sex life, butalso on a person's self-esteem, self-confidence and the consequent disruptionwithin their relationship can certainly prevent people from talking - andultimately taking action about PE, as this survey clearly demonstrates."
When partners of men with PE were surveyed, the majority (70%) said theyhave never spoken to anyone about their partner's PE, not even with theirpartner. A significant number of men and partners have never even looked forinformation on PE from sources such as websites.
When it comes to doing something about PE, only one in ten men havespoken to a healthcare professional about the condition. Of those that havenot spoken to a healthcare professional, almost half say it is because theyare too embarrassed, whilst 28% of men do not think PE is a medical conditionthat a doctor can do anything about.
Irem Hattat, President of the European Sexual Health Alliance, theEuropean umbrella group for sexual health patient support groups, said:
"Premature ejaculation is a sexual health problem like any other and canbe overcome successfully. We would encourage any man who has PE or theirpartner to speak to either a doctor or their local sexual health supportgroup, who can provide trustworthy information and the right advice, supportand solutions. The first step in dealing with PE is talking about it, and theadvice we would give to men to overcome the hurdle of any type of sexualdisorder is to talk about it, particularly with their partner. This can oftenbe the first step in being able to find a solution about a sensitive andoften awkward topic in order to help improve couples' sex lives and thestrength of their relationships."
The 'PE Confidential' Survey also highlighted cultural variations in theway that men from different countries deal with PE. Men from the UK wererevealed to be the most reluctant to speak about PE, with 71% reporting theyhave never spoken to anyone about it. Spanish men appeared to be the mostopen in discussing their condition, with 63% reporting they have talked abouttheir PE.
German and British men are most unhappy with their sex lives because ofPE, whilst French men and partners feel that PE has a slightly strongerimpact on their relationship compared with couples from other countries.
PE is believed to be the most common sexual disorder in men [1]. It is adistressing medical condition that is estimated to affect one in five men(20-25%), at some point in their lives, regardless of where they live [2]. PEis recognised as a medical condition by leading health organisations,including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Society forSexual Medicine (ISSM), the American Urological Association (AUA) and theAmerican Psychiatric Association (APA). The condition consists of three majorcomponents: a short time to ejaculation, lack of control over ejaculation andnegative personal impact or distress related to ejaculation [3].
References:
1. Abdel-Hamid, I.A., E.A. Jannini, and K.E. Andersson, Prematureejaculation: focus on therapeutic targets. Expert Opin Ther Targets, 2009.13(2): p. 175-93.
2. Porst, H., et al., The Premature Ejaculation Prevalence and Attitudes(PEPA) survey: prevalence, comorbidities, and professional help-seeking. EurUrol, 2007. 51(3): p. 816-23; discussion 824.
3. McMahon, C.G., et al., An evidence-based definition of lifelongpremature ejaculation: report of the International Society for SexualMedicine Ad Hoc Committee for the Definition of Premature Ejaculation. BJUInt, 2008.
About European Men's Health Forum (EMHF)
The EMHF is the only European organisation dedicated to the improvementof men's health in all its aspects, and a platform for the collaboration of awide range of stakeholder groups in Europe. EMHF was initiated by The Men'sHealth Forum, the leading advocate of men's health in England and Wales, withthe support and collaboration of partners who share its aim of tackling thepoor state of male health across all the countries of Europe. EMHF is anindependent, non-governmental, non-profit-making organisation. It is amembership association headed by an elected Board of Directors, whichrepresents the diverse range of Europe-wide and national organisations withan interest in men's health issues. The day-to-day work of the organisationis carried out a Secretariat headed by a Director.
http://www.emhf.org
About European Sexual Health Alliance (ESHA)
ESHA is an umbrella organisation for patient support groups across Europeon the topic of sexual health. Its main objectives are to bring together andsupport those Associations established in European countries (or elsewhere),which are concerned with the issues of Sexual Dysfunction and its impact onpatients and other members of the general public. ESHA undertakes lobbing forthe benefit of the sufferers (medical and scientific societies, governmentaland community organisations, media and health policy makers). ESHAco-operates with pan-European organisations to further the understanding andknowledge of Sexual Dysfunction.
http://www.essm.org/esda/general.asp
About Informationszentrum für Sexualität und Gesundheit (ISG)(Information Centre for Sexuality and Health)
ISG is a German patient support group set up in 1999 by doctors andscientists from different fields with an interest in sexual health. ISG isthe first point of contact for people seeking help and advice aboutsexuality, sexual health and relationships. ISG also aims to remove theprejudice, stigma and taboos which exist around sexual disorders. To-date, ithas a membership of approximately 1,000 people with sexual dysfunction andmore than 400 professionals in the field of sexual medicine.
http://www.isg-info.de
About Janssen-Cilag EMEA
Janssen-Cilag EMEA, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., is aresearch-based pharmaceutical company that develops and markets innovative,high-quality pharmaceutical products and services aimed at improving thehealth and quality of life for people with unmet medical needs across theworld. Janssen-Cilag EMEA companies operate in virtually all countries of theworld and are active in a number of therapeutic areas such as pain,psychiatry, neurology, oncology, infectious diseases including HIV,gastroenterology, women's health, fungal diseases and nephrology.
http://www.Janssen-Cilag EMEA.comFor further information on sexual health, men's health and premature ejaculation, visit: - European Men's Health Forum (EMHF) http://www.emhf.org - European Sexual Health Alliance (ESHA) http://www.essm.org/esda/general.asp - For premature ejaculation information and tips on talking about PE http://www.prematureejaculation.com - Informationszentrum für Sexualität und Gesundheit (ISG) http://www.isg-info.de
SOURCE Janssen-Cilag EMEA, EMHF, ESHA & ISG
