Premature Ejaculation Workup

Updated: May 19, 2023
  • Author: Samuel G Deem, DO; Chief Editor: Edward David Kim, MD, FACS  more...
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Workup

Approach Considerations

In males with premature (early) ejaculation and no other medical problems, no specific conventional laboratory tests aid or affect treatment. If premature ejaculation is observed in conjunction with an impotence problem, it may be appropriate to check the serum testosterone (free and total) level and the prolactin level. If depression or other conditions are coexisting with premature ejaculation, laboratory studies specific to depression or to another medical or psychological problem are warranted. Premature ejaculation has been linked to hyperthyroidism, so measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone may be considered in patients with signs or symptoms suggesting hyperthyroidism [22] .

Some investigators are performing vibrational threshold testing on volunteer subjects; others are using nerve conduction times, somatosensory latency testing, or both. A few investigators are evaluating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, some are testing melatonin levels, and some are measuring levels of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide (mediators of male sexual function). At present, however, all such determinations must be considered experimental; none have yet proved to be applicable to current clinical practice.