A new study suggests that pelvic floor exercises may be effective in treating premature ejaculation (PE) in men. Participants reported about 400 percent improvement from their previous ejaculation time.
According to the American Urological Association, premature ejaculation is one of the three major sexual dysfunction experienced by men, aside from erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. This occurs when ejaculation happens sooner than desired causing stress to one or both partners.
Researchers from the Sapieza University in Rome, led by Dr. Antonio Pastore, recruited 40 male participants, aged 19 to 46 years old. All of them were diagnosed with premature ejaculation (PE) and they were all subjected to pelvic floor exercises in a 12-week course. During the study, the time-to orgasm of the men was also recorded. The men reported that they have tried other exercises and therapies for PE before, but none of them were able to treat their embarrassing disorder.
The researchers noted that before starting the pelvic floor exercises, the average ejaculation time of the men was 31.7 seconds but after completing the 12-week exercises, this increased by 146.2 second, a 400 percent increase of the previous average. About 83 percent of the participants reported improvement on their ejaculation time while 13 percent declared no signs of improvement. Five percent were not able finish the exercises during the follow-up period.
Thirteen of 33 participants continued the pelvic floor exercises for six months, and they reported that they were able to maintain their improved ejaculation time.
"This is a small study, so the effects need to be verified in a bigger trial. Nevertheless, the results are very positive. The rehabilitation exercises are easy to perform, with no reported adverse effects," Dr. Pastore said in a press release.
Pelvic floor exercises are normally used to help men who have PE and those who had surgery to cure prostate cancer. This study was the first to prove that these exercises are helpful in men who have a lifetime problem with premature ejaculation.
Results of this study were presented at the European Congress of Urology in Stockholm.
