Peripheral electrical stimulation for premature ejaculation: a systematic review of clinical studies
Abstract
Background: Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual disorder characterized by a lack of voluntary control over ejaculation. Current treatments often fail to produce consistently satisfactory outcomes. Peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) is an emerging neuromodulation technique that applies electrical currents to targeted body areas and has shown promise across various conditions.
Objectives: Although the use of PES for PE is relatively underexplored, this study aimed to synthesize existing research to better understand its potential as a treatment option.
Design: Systematic review.
Data sources and methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords. Studies were included if they investigated PES as a treatment for PE and reported outcomes such as intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) or other clinical measures.
Results: Ten studies met the eligibility criteria. Due to the limited number and heterogeneity of studies, a meta-analysis was not feasible, and a narrative synthesis was performed. Stimulation was applied transcutaneously in various ways, including at acupuncture points, the dorsal penile nerve, and the posterior tibial nerve. Protocols varied considerably, though commonly reported parameters included a pulse frequency of 20 Hz and a pulse width of 200 µs, typically administered in 30-min sessions. Some studies lacked detailed descriptions of stimulation settings. Overall,…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
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