Sex spray for men not so 'revolutionary'

The British media has been buzzing with talk of a 'revolutionary' new 'sex spray' that helps men perform for six times longer than usual. One particularly excitable article described it as 'spray-on Viagra', and a few U.S. news sites also got in on the action.

At the heart of it all is research done by a company called Plethora Solutions, which hopes to market a spray treatment for men who ejaculate too quickly. By desensitizing the tip of the penis, the spray could reduce stimulation and help men avoid climaxing too soon.

But the product isn't exactly revolutionary. It contains two active ingredients, lidocaine and prilocaine. You probably remember lidocaine from a trip to the dentist: it's one of the most commonly used local anesthetics in the United States. Prilocaine is another anesthetic, and the combination is already available in several products, such as EMLA cream. Doctors sometimes recommend local anesthetics for men who ejaculate too quickly, so it's good to have some research, and a spray-on version is probably more convenient than a cream, but this treatment isn't entirely new.

In trials, nearly 300 men were asked to try either the anesthetic spray or a placebo spray five minutes before having sex. Most of the men were in their 30s, all were heterosexual, all had a steady partner, and all had suffered from premature ejaculation their whole lives.

The men were all given a stopwatch and they or their partners were asked to time how long before they ejaculated during sex. Before treatment, penetrative sex lasted an average of 36 seconds. After using the spray, men were able to have sex for 3 minutes 48 seconds, on average. But men who used a placebo spray barely improved, lasting an average of 1 minute 6 seconds. A few men got a rash on their penis after using the spray, or struggled to keep their erection. Some of the partners of men who used the spray said they got a burning sensation in their vagina.

The spray's manufacturer would have to apply to the FDA for a licence if they wanted to market it in the United States.

For the purposes of the study, premature ejaculation was defined as ejaculation either before penetration, or within around a minute of vaginal penetration, on nearly all occasions when a couple had sex. But for many men, a strict medical definition isn't important. Premature ejaculation only becomes a problem if it stops you or your partner from enjoying sex.

If premature ejaculation is a problem, there are several things your doctor might suggest. Anesthetic sprays or gels are one option, and some antidepressant drugs can delay ejaculation. Talking therapy can help couples with emotional issues about sex, or men can learn "stop-start" techniques that give them more control. Some condoms include a mild anesthetic to help delay ejaculation.

What you need to know. Ejaculating quickly can be a problem if it stops you or your partner from enjoying sex. Although many people feel embarrassed discussing sex with their doctor, it's worth getting help, as there are several treatment options.

—Philip Wilson, patient editor, BMJ Group

ConsumerReportsHealth.org has partnered with The BMJ Group to monitor the latest medical research and assess the evidence to help you decide which news you should use.

Read more on ways to prevent early orgasm, and see our Treatment Ratings (subscribers only) for premature ejaculation and other erection problems.