Do the diagnostic criteria for premature ejaculation apply to non-straight men and to sexual activities other than penile–vaginal intercourse?

Abstract

Professional standards committees have generally applied the diagnostic criteria for premature ejaculation only to situations involving (presumed) heterosexual men having penile–vaginal intercourse. This paper reviews the existing evidence supporting expansion of the criteria for use among non-straight men engaging in sexual activities that do not include vaginal intercourse. In brief, estimated ejaculation latencies appear similar across men identifying with different sexual orientations, and various partnered sexual activities (oral, vaginal, and manual) tend to be well correlated. In contrast, masturbation latency patterns are different between men with and without premature ejaculation, and ejaculatory control and bother/distress may be less critical to gay men than straight men during partnered sex. Finally, it should be noted that existing patient report outcomes (PROs) require modification for use with non-straight men.