Problems with premature ejaculation could all be inherited: Scientists have found a genetic abnormality can affect levels of the chemical in the brain
It can leave men feeling like a failure in the bedroom and wreck even the strongest marriages.
But new research suggests premature ejaculation could be an inherited problem.
Scientists from Finland and Sweden have found men who cannot last long during sex are more likely to have a genetic abnormality that affects levels of a chemical in the brain.
They discovered these men carried a defect in a gene that controls the release of dopamine, a ‘neurotransmitter’ that plays a crucial role in everything from movement and attention span to the brain’s perception of pleasure and reward.
Now they believe drugs that boost dopamine levels in the brain could be a new way of treating a condition that affects one in four men in the UK.
As far back as the 1970s, researchers noted that dopamine-based drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease had an aphrodisiac affect on some patients.
But until now, most experts agreed premature ejaculation was probably linked with psychological issues.
One popular theory is men become conditioned to ejaculate quickly by early sexual behaviour where they do not want to get caught in the act.
Another is that a strict upbringing can leave some men struggling to relax during sex. Studies show men affected by the problem last an average of just 1.8 minutes during sex, compared with 7.3 minutes in those not affected.
Treatments usually involve relaxation techniques, although doctors do sometimes prescribe anti-depressants to control men’s anxiety.
Scientists have also been developing ‘numbing’ sprays that can make men last longer.
The latest study, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggests the problem may be passed down through the generations.
Experts studied almost 1,300 men aged between 18 and 45 and quizzed each one on how long they were usually able to last during sex.
They also took saliva samples to test for defects in a dopamine transporter gene, called DAT1.
The results showed that men with a slightly different form of the gene were much more likely to suffer with premature ejaculation.
In a report on their findings scientists said: ‘Previous research suggests a partly hereditary background to premature ejaculation.
‘But the results of this study indicate that drugs directly affecting dopamine levels may be candidates for treatment.’
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