Brain Activity During Sexual Behavior in Patients With Primary Premature Ejaculation a Clinical Trial

Launched by XIJING HOSPITAL · Aug 22, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how brain activity changes during sexual behavior in men with a condition called primary premature ejaculation (PPE). Researchers want to understand the differences in brain function between men who experience this condition and those who do not. To do this, they will use a special imaging technique called near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to observe brain activity while participants engage in a simulated sexual task.

Eligible participants must be men aged 18 to 45 who have been in a stable relationship with a female partner for at least six months and have regular sexual activity. Men with primary premature ejaculation must meet specific criteria, including having experienced the condition for over six months. Those without premature ejaculation will be closely matched in age to the participants with PPE. Throughout the study, participants can expect to undergo brain imaging sessions while engaging in tasks designed to simulate sexual behavior. This research aims to provide valuable insights into the brain's role in sexual health, which could lead to better treatments for premature ejaculation in the future.

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria (primary premature ejaculation subjects):
• • patients' age varied from 18 to 45 years；
• • patients met the 2014 International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) definition criteria for PPE；
• • patients had a stable, heterosexual relationship with a single sexually active female partner for at least 6 months and with at least two sexual intercourses a week and kept stable during the study period;
• • Patients with premature ejaculation lasting longer than 6 months；
• • patients were identified if their scores were higher than 9 on the Chinese version of Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT);
• • patients had no history of any previous therapies for PE or had recently stopped the therapies for at least 3 months
• • patients had fully informed consent, signed informed consent form
• Inclusion Criteria (Non-premature ejaculation subjects):
• • Men between the ages of 18-45 years were included according to an age difference of \<3 years between each patient and the primary premature ejaculation group, and if more than one volunteer was eligible at the same time, the one with the closest age was selected；
• • Patient does not meet the 2014 International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) criteria for defining premature ejaculation；
• • patients had a stable, heterosexual relationship with a single sexually active female partner for at least 6 months and with at least two sexual intercourses a week and kept stable during the study period;
• • patients had fully informed consent, signed informed consent form；
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • patients were diagnosed with secondary PE, variable PE, and subjective PE;
• • patients were using medications for endocrinological, metabolic, chronic systemic, or psychiatric diseases;
• • patients were abusing alcohol or illegal drugs；
• • patients were diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED) if their scores were \<21 on the abridged five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5)
• • patients were diagnosed with sexual hormone abnormalities, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Peyronie's disease, prostatitis, urethritis, or urinary tract infection;
• • patients with head injuries that prevent them from completing near-infrared light brain function imaging
• • Patients with severe schizophrenia, anxiety, depression or other neurological symptoms or poor compliance