Role of Dapoxetine in Premature Ejaculation

Abstract

Background: Premature ejaculation (PE) is a prevalent male sexual dysfunction that significantly impacts psychological wellbeing and relationship satisfaction. While traditionally managed with behavioral interventions, pharmacologic therapies—particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—have emerged as effective alternatives. Dapoxetine, a short-acting SSRI, is approved for on-demand treatment of PE and has demonstrated efficacy in prolonging intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT), yet data from South Asian populations remain limited. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of dapoxetine 30 mg in increasing IELT among men diagnosed with premature ejaculation in a tertiary care setting in Pakistan. Methods: This descriptive observational study included 165 male patients aged 20–60 years with clinically diagnosed PE, based on DSM-V criteria, treated with dapoxetine 30 mg on demand over 12 weeks. IELT was self-recorded using a stopwatch. Effectiveness was defined as achieving IELT >1 minute in ≥75% of sexual encounters. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25. Stratified analyses were conducted by age, BMI, and symptom duration. Results: The mean age was 39.25 ± 11.71 years, and mean BMI was 25.75 ± 1.09 kg/m². The mean pre-treatment and post-treatment IELT were 1.53 ± 0.50 and 3.16 ± 1.41 minutes, respectively, with a significant mean increase of 1.63 minutes (p < 0.001). Overall, 106 patients (64.2%) achieved treatment effectiveness. No significant differences were found across stratified subgroups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Dapoxetine 30 mg demonstrated a statistically and clinically significant improvement in IELT in men with PE, with consistent effectiveness across age, BMI, and symptom duration strata. These findings support its role as an effective on-demand therapy for premature ejaculation in the regional population.