Perceptions of normal and abnormal ejaculatory latency times: an observational study in Ghanaian males and females.
BACKGROUND
This cross-sectional study aimed at quantifying the perceptions of Ghanaian men and women on how long they thought sex should last, from intromission until ejaculation.


METHODS
A random sample of 568 heterosexual men and women within the Kumasi Metropolis was surveyed from December 2009 to February 2010. The question of primary interest in the present study includes perceived intravaginal ejaculatory latency (IELT), in minutes, for four different conditions: "adequate," "desirable," "too short," and "too long" IELT.


RESULTS
The interquartile range for the respondent's judgment of an "adequate" length for IELT was from 7.0 to 20.3 min; "desirable" from 10.0 to 25.0 min; "too short" from 2.0 to 5.0 min; "too long" from 10.5 to 60.0 min. However, the "actual" IELT (i.e. what the respondents are capable of doing) as found in this study was from 6 to 15 min. Ghanaian perceptions about ejaculatory latencies were in part consistent with data from Germany and contrary to data from the USA on ejaculatory latency and were not affected by age or educational level.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the average Ghanaian believes that intercourse that lasts 7.0-25.0 min is normal. Dissemination of the present finding to the public may modify their expectations for IELT which will lead to a realistic replica of sexuality and hence help prevent sexual disappointments and dysfunctions. It will also be beneficial to couples who are being treated for sexual problems by normalizing their expectations.
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. anafiu@uds.edu.gh.
Nafiu
N
Amidu
Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. wkbaowiredu@yahoo.com.
William K B A
WK
Owiredu
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. peterpauldapare@yahoo.com.
Peter P M
PP
Dapare
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. benzinoring@yahoo.com.
Benedict B
BB
Antuamwine
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004542:Ejaculation; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male