Lidocaine/prilocaine spray for premature ejaculation.

Although premature ejaculation is the most common ejaculation problem, it is poorly understood and currently has no standard definition.1 Typically, it involves reduced time to ejaculation, inability to control or delay ejaculation and associated distress.1-5 Treatments that have been assessed include psychosexual counselling, antidepressants (e.g. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors, tramadol and topical anaesthetic agents (e.g. lidocaine/prilocaine cream). A new formulation (cutaneous spray) of lidocaine/prilocaine (Fortacin-Plethora Solutions Ltd.) was launched in the UK in November 2016 for the treatment of primary premature ejaculation.6,7 Here, we consider the evidence for lidocaine/prilocaine spray and whether it has a role in the treatment of premature ejaculation.