Are Filipinos satisfied with their sex life?
The intimate nature of sex and conservative values of many Filipinos make it very difficult to answer the question posed by this column’s title. Only a few patients on the verge of despair may seek consultation but a large survey done in our region, the Asia-Pacific Premature Ejaculation Prevalence and Attitudes (Pepa) Study, reveal interesting insights! Conducted from March to April 2009, the Pepa study involved almost 5,000 men aged 18 to 65 from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines.
The Pepa study revealed that one in three men in the Asia-Pacific region has premature ejaculation (PE), and that more men have PE than erectile dysfunction or ED (31 percent versus 20 percent). On average, men reach sexual climax and ejaculate within 4 to 8 minutes after the start of sexual intercourse. PE occurs when a man is unable to control or delay ejaculation on his own wish after vaginal penetration, resulting in short latency time and decreased sexual satisfaction, as well as personal distress and interpersonal difficulty.
Among the men diagnosed with PE in the Pepa study, 90 percent reported poor or very poor control of their ejaculation. Almost 8 out of 10 said they were unsatisfied with sexual intercourse. Seventy-five percent admitted experiencing significant personal distress related to ejaculation while half reported “quite a bit” to “extremely” interpersonal difficulty related to ejaculation. Whereas 90 percent of partners of men without PE said they were satisfied with sexual intercourse, only 38 percent of partners of men with PE expressed sexual satisfaction.
The 2013 Asia Pacific Sexual Behaviors and Satisfaction Survey found that over 80 percent of Filipino men and women agree that mutual sexual satisfaction plays “a very important role” in a successful relationship. Nine out of 10 Filipino men consider it “highly important” that they sexually satisfy their partners, i.e. to make their partner feel happy, loved and satisfied. The survey also revealed that 70 percent of Filipino women in the survey believe that mutual sexual satisfaction can be achieved when the man is able to control when he ejaculates.
One of the biggest surveys of its kind ever conducted in the region, the 2013 Asia Pacific Sexual Behaviors and Satisfaction Survey involved over 3,500 men and women from Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines.
PE is the most common male sexual disorder, but that doesn’t mean Filipino men and their partners have to suffer in silence. Patients can consult their friendly urologist or their doctor regarding this problem. Research had been done for a drug to treat PE. The drug has already been introduced abroad and will soon be available in the country. This medication can be prescribed, and with a supportive partner, this can be combined with psychological and relationship counseling. With this holistic management, men with PE can take action and regain control.
Dr. Ulysses T. Quanico is a urologist and president of the Philippine Urological Association. A health information advocacy supported by A. Menarini Philippines, PE-P Talk is a health column series that aims to raise awareness on and enhance understanding of premature ejaculation (PE) and its proper diagnosis and treatment. For inquiries, please e-mail [email protected] or visit www.controlPE.ph.
