Prevalence of Premature Ejaculation: A Narrative Review of National and Cultural Differences

The prevalence of premature ejaculation (PE) across different cultures and nationalities has long been a topic of debate, with early studies suggesting that men in such regions as the Middle East and Asia experience higher rates. However, the validity of these claims has been questioned due to methodological inconsistencies and the lack of comparative studies that apply uniform diagnostic criteria across different populations. This narrative review aims to analyze the existing literature to assess whether justifiable support for cultural or national differences regarding PE prevalance truly exists. The review focused on empirical studies spanning from 1995 to 2024 that included men from multiple nationalities or cultures. Studies on patient or specialized populations or that assessed only ejaculation latencies (EL) were excluded. Three categories of studies were reviewed: (1) studies including multiple nationalities within a single analysis, (2) studies from different countries that used an identical method to determine PE status, and (3) studies employing varied methodologies to determine PE status. The review found that differences in PE prevalence across cultures are more likely due to methodological variations than true cultural or national differences. While some trends, such as slightly higher rates in Latin American and Asian countries, were noted, no consistent patterns emerged. Studies using standardized methods, like the PEDT, generally showed prevalence rates between 5% and 15%, with no clear outliers across regions. Thus, current evidence does not support significant cultural or national differences in PE prevalence. Methodological inconsistencies, such as reliance on self-report and non-standardized diagnostic criteria, likely contribute to perceived differences. Future research should focus on using standardized methodologies and include more studies from underrepresented regions, such as Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa.

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