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.