Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction in Lifelong Premature Ejaculation: Analysis of Heart Rate Variability

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To identify autonomic nervous dysfunction in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation. METHODS The study participants were 25 men with lifelong premature ejaculation and 25 healthy controls. The parameters of 24-hour heart rate variability that are influenced by the autonomic nervous system were compared between the men with lifelong premature ejaculation and the healthy controls. RESULTS The laboratory results of all patients were within normal limits, and no significant differences were found between the patients and the controls in age, body weight, and body mass index. A low-frequency signal that is influenced by the sympathetic system was increased in the patients (P = .026). Furthermore, a high-frequency signal that is influenced by the parasympathetic system was decreased in the patients (P = .011). Finally, the low frequency-to-high frequency ratio, an indicator of the balance between the two components of the autonomic nervous system, was increased in the patients (P = .002). CONCLUSION To our knowledge, no study has investigated the influence of the autonomic nervous system on 24-hour heart rate variability in premature ejaculation. In the present study, sympathetic activity was increased in men with lifelong premature ejaculation; this overactivity might lead to lifelong premature ejaculation. Additional studies are required to reveal the possible alteration of the autonomic nervous system in premature ejaculation. UROLOGY 80: 1283-1286, 2012. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc.