Premature ejaculation: clinical subgroups and etiology.

Forty-six patients suffering from premature ejaculation (PE) were subdivided into primary premature ejaculators (PPE)--those who suffered from PE since the beginning of their sexual lives--and secondary premature ejaculators (SPE)--those who suffered from PE after years of normal sexual functioning. It is postulated that these two groups can be clinically differentiated by: bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) latency time; sequential natural history of PPE vs. nonsequential development of SPE; and nondemonstrable organic illness vs. demonstrable organic cause in the great majority of SPE. This classification appears to be helpful in formulating appropriate treatment plans.