Room 517-D | Premature Ejaculation: Towards a Consensus on Definition, Etiology and Treatment- Part I I Thursday, July 14, 2005 Time: 2:30 PM-4:30 PM |
Emotional Impact of Premature Ejaculation in Patients: A Qualitative Exploration.
Rubio Aurioles, Eusebio*,1, Arango de Montis, Ivan1, Terrein Roccatti, Nadine1, 1 Asociacion Mexicana para la Salud Sexual A.C., Tlalpan, Mexico DF, Mexico
ABSTRACT- OBJECTIVE: To explore the emotional impact of premature ejaculation as perceived by the patients with qualitative research methodology. METHODS: Subjects were selected from the patient database of the AMSSAC Sexual Health Clinic. Subjects were invited to participate; an informed consent form was provided, explained and signed by participants. A screening interview included the identification of inclusion and exclusion criteria as follows: Inclusion criteria: Premature ejaculation diagnosed according to DSM IV TR, between 20 and 55 years of age, Heterosexuals, with active sexual life according to subject statements, with a single partner in the last 6 months, premature ejaculation had to occur at least twice a month, with at least high school education. Exclusion criteria: use of medication that impairs sexual function. A 2 hour session focus group was conducted and recoded both in audio and video format. A complete transcript of the session was then analyzed to identify content following the principles of Grounded Theory, and categories of emotional impact were constructed and accommodated in a Mental Map. RESULTS: The following categories of impact were identified: Impact in the Patient, Impact in the Partner, Impact in the Family, Impact on Sexual Function, Impact on co-morbidities, especially alcohol abuse, and interestingly some positive impacts. The most extensive category here was impact in the Patient where the following areas of impact were identified: Identity (self esteem and masculinity), Affective States (Frustration and depressive feelings), Sexual Functioning (avoidance of sexual interaction), Interaction with Partner and Social skills (diminished perceived capacity to approach a potential new partner) CONCLUSIONS: Premature ejaculation had an important impact in this group of self identified patients. The emotional impact on the patient himself is clear and with several levels both in himself, his partner and sometimes family. More research is needed to understand how these patients refers such a big impact and other men (i.e. Laumann, et al 1999) apparently have a less distressing reaction to premature ejaculation
Key words: PREMATURE EJACULATION, IMPACT, SELF ESTEEM, IDENTITY