The first pill to treat premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation (PE), the most common male sexual disorder, is caused by a combination of psychological and physiological factors, with serotonin playing a central role. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger that carries, boosts and modulates signals between neurons (nerve cells) in the brain and nervous system. Neurons are able to pass on these signals to other neurons through a structure called the synapse.

Studies have shown that adequate levels of serotonin in the synapses help delay ejaculation. Men with PE have low levels of serotonin in the synapses, causing them to climax soon after sexual activity and with minimal penile stimulation—madali o mabilis labasan.

Filipino men can now regain control with dapoxetine, the first and only drug specifically developed for the treatment of PE. Dapoxetine quickly increases the synaptic levels of serotonin, improving PE symptoms. It also significantly improves all measures of PE, such as control over ejaculation, sexual satisfaction of the couple and time to ejaculate.

Dapoxetine can be taken by men with PE whose ages are between 18 and 64. It is dosed on-demand (as needed) one to three hours before intercourse. Dapoxetine is clinically proven to work effectively on the first dose for most men. In the body, dapoxetine is quickly absorbed and rapidly cleared, thereby avoiding its accumulation. Tested in five major clinical studies involving over 6,000 men, dapoxetine is proven effective and well tolerated. It is now approved in over 50 countries for the treatment of PE and is now available in the Philippines.

If you suspect you have PE, don’t let misconceptions and embarrassment stop you from overcoming this common condition. Act now to regain control by talking to your doctor. The medical community now knows a lot more about the diagnosis and treatment of PE. To diagnose PE, doctors use the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), a simple but effective questionnaire consisting of five questions. Once diagnosed, PE can be successfully treated. Effective treatment options include medication, psychological counseling and sexual techniques that delay ejaculation. In many cases, combining medications with counseling and sexual techniques is the best treatment approach.

ANNOUNCEMENT: In celebration of Father’s Day, visit your urologist on June 14 and get a free urological screening and checkup courtesy of the Philippine Urological Association.

Dr. Benjie Mendoza is a urologist and past president of Asia Pacific Society of Sexual Medicine. A health information advocacy supported by A. Menarini Philippines, PE-P Talk is a 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.