Self-reported variations in ejaculatory latency time in premature ejaculation: insights into contextual and behavioural factors

Abstract

Intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) is traditionally considered a stable parameter in premature ejaculation (PE), although recent findings suggest that physiological, behavioural and contextual factors may influence it. This cross—sectional study assessed intraindividual variations in self-reported IELT among 119 men with PE, examining the effects of time of day, sexual position, alcohol consumption, condom use and foreplay duration. Participants completed validated questionnaires and provided IELT estimates across multiple conditions. Masturbation latency (MELT) was significantly longer than vaginal IELT (Z = 7.53, p = 3.0 × 10⁻¹⁴). Daily longest and morning IELT were significantly higher than the “average” IELT (Z = 4.06, p = 4 × 10⁻⁵; Z = 3.95, p = 8 × 10⁻⁵), whereas the shortest IELT did not differ significantly (Z = −1.26, p = 0.206). No sexual position emerged as significantly more likely to be associated with the longest or shortest IELT, although position-related IELT differences were reported (longest IELT: Z = 4.97, p = 6.7 × 10⁻⁷; shortest IELT: Z = −6.00, p = 2.0 × 10⁻⁹). IELT increased significantly after alcohol consumption (Z = 4.84, p = 1.3 × 10⁻⁶) and condom use (Z = 4.56, p = 5.1 × 10⁻⁶), while foreplay duration showed minimal impact (p = 9.3 × 10⁻⁸). These findings challenge the assumption of IELT as a fixed diagnostic parameter and highlight the influence of contextual and behavioural factors.