Men who suffer from the little-discussed problem of premature ejaculation might find a solution in an anesthetic spray.
Study results suggest the spray, which at the moment is called PSD502, is effective in helping men last longer during intercourse by temporarily reducing sensation in the skin.
"Premature ejaculation is one of the most common sexual dysfunctions in men," said Dr. Ira D. Sharlip, a spokesman with the American Urological Association.
"It occurs in 20 to 30 per cent of men of all ages and we need an effective, patient-friendly treatment for this distressing problem."
In the study, 300 men were identified with premature ejaculation. On average, the men lasted about 40 seconds during intercourse before ejaculating.
The men were divided into two groups: one received the anesthetic spray; the rest received a placebo spray. They applied the spray, which contains lidocaine and prilocaine, to the penis five minutes before intercourse.
The men who used the anesthetic spray increased their "staying power" to four minutes, while the placebo group improved to just one minute.
The spray had few side effects and men using it also reported more sexual satisfaction.
The results were presented at the 104th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association.
The current treatment for premature ejaculation consists of topical creams. The creams contain desensitizing agents that make the penile skin less sensitive, thereby delaying ejaculation.
Although effective, these creams require washing the cream away before intercourse and/or use of a condom. Some men have reported the creams may reduce sexual pleasure.
The spray selectively desensitizes penile skin, affecting only the non-keratinized skin (the inner lining of the foreskin and the surface of the glans (the head of the penis), without adversely affecting the sensation of ejaculation.
"This new topical spray has promise to become one of the most effective treatments for premature ejaculation. It has a number of characteristics which will be attractive to patients with premature ejaculation," said Sharlip.
