title: Epidemiology of delayed ejaculation.
abstract: A large body of literature on diminished ejaculatory disorders has been generated without the use of a clear diagnostic definition. Many studies have not distinguished between the orgasm and ejaculation disorders leading to doubtful results. Delayed ejaculation (DE) is one of the diminished ejaculatory disorders, which range from varying delays in ejaculatory latency to a complete inability to ejaculate. The present review is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the definition and epidemiology of diminished ejaculatory disorders. We focus on the acquired diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and specific drug regimens that may cause an iatrogenic form of ejaculatory disorder. In addition, the impact of aging is discussed since the prevalence of DE appears to be moderately but positively related to age. Finally, we also focus on the importance of the hormonal milieu on male ejaculation. To date, evidence on the endocrine control of ejaculation is derived from small clinical trials, but the evidence suggests that hormones modulate the ejaculatory process by altering its overall latency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy ;
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Sante
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy ;
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mollaioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy ;
authors.forename: Giovanni Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gravina
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy ;
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciocca
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy ;
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Limoncin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy ;
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy ;
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Andrology and Medical Sexology, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emmanuele A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jannini
keywords: Testosterone; anejaculation; anorgasmia; delayed ejaculation (DE); lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS); painful ejaculation; retrograde ejaculation (RE); thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)