History of premature ejaculation

Abstract

In 1887, premature ejaculation (PE) was first mentioned in the medical literature. However, until the 1960s there still was paucity of publications on PE, with more attention to this topic in the 1970/80s, while becoming a well-known disorder only within the last two decades. Four historic periods are distinguishable, with PE being regarded from different points of view. Initially considered as a purely psychological and later psychosomatic disorder, PE was seen as the result of self-learned behavior in the 1960/70s. In the 1990s it was postulated that lifelong PE is the result of neurobiologic and genetic factors and it became clear that acquired PE is due to a number of underlying medical conditions. In the first decade of the current century, another distinct group of men was seen to be afflicted by PE while having a normal ejaculation time. In line with these developments, the initial rather rigid view that all men with PE should undergo psychotherapy has changed to a more flexible view that various treatments can be applied to treat PE and that psychoeducation and counselling remains essential in every treatment.