Lidocaine spray before sex can help with premature ejaculation

A 5% lidocaine spray on the glans penis just before intercourse improves intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) among men suffering from premature ejaculation (PE), reports a recent study.

The researchers conducted a randomized, single-blind controlled trial including 150 patients with lifelong PE. Participants were randomized to receive an on-demand 5% lidocaine spray (n=75) or a placebo alcohol spray (n=75). Both groups were instructed to apply either agent on the glans penis 10–20 minutes before intercourse. The trial period lasted for 8 weeks.

Scores in Arabic Index of Premature Ejaculation (AIPE) indicated that at baseline, the treatment groups were comparable in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. Scores after 8 weeks of treatment, however, showed that those treated with lidocaine saw significant improvements both overall and in every domain, including self-rated sexual desire, erection assessment, and intercourse satisfaction (p=0.0001 for all).

IETLs were measured using stopwatches, and durations at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment were compared. At the end of the trial, men using the 5% lidocaine spray reported an average IELT of 6.26±1.72 minutes, significantly greater than their placebo counterparts, who recorded a mean of 0.61±0.16 minute (p=0.0001).

In turn, men taking the active treatment also reported a significantly higher frequency of sexual intercourse than the alcohol controls (p=0.0001).

“These improvements in AIPE scores, IELTs, and sexual intercourse frequency could be explained by good absorption of the lidocaine 5% spray that allows deeper tissue penetrations to reach the aimed neuronal membranes of the glans penis with good reductions in penile sensitivity,” the researchers said.