Prevalence and Factors Associated with Premature Ejaculation in Urological Consultation in the City of Douala

Abstract

Introduction : Premature ejaculation (PE) remains the most common male sexual disorder, yet it is still insufficiently explored in urology services in Cameroon. Through this study conducted in Douala, we aimed to estimate the frequency of this condition in urological consultations, identify associated factors, and assess its psychological impact. Methods : Between February 1 and May 16, 2025, a cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted in three urology departments in Douala. All men aged 21 years and above who attended the consultation and provided informed consent were included. PE was defined as an intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) of ≤3 minutes, according to the criteria of the International Society for Sexual Medicine. A sensitivity analysis using a stricter ≤ 1-minute cutoff was performed to assess robustness. Anxiety, depression, and quality of life were assessed using the STAI-T, BDI, and SF-36 scores, respectively, with validated cutoffs. Statistical analyses were performed to identify factors associated with PE. Results : Among the 301 patients included, 70 presented with PE, corresponding to a prevalence of 23.26%. Using a ≤1-minute cutoff, prevalence was 9.63% (n = 29). After adjustment, independently associated factors included a history of sexually transmitted infections (aOR = 3.98), erectile dysfunction (aOR = 3.25), frequent alcohol consumption (≥4 times/week; aOR = 4.86), and heavy smoking (>15 pack-years; aOR = 2.04). Among patients with PE, the mean STAI-T score was 48.6 ± 8.4, with 75.7% having moderate anxiety; mean BDI score was 16.8 ± 5.2, with 52.9% having at least mild depression. While mean quality of life was preserved (SF-36: 67.3 ± 14.1), 20% reported poor quality of life. Conclusion : Premature ejaculation is relatively common in urological consultations in Douala and appears to be associated with several medical and behavioural factors. Signs of anxiety and depression are frequent among affected patients. These findings highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach that includes mental health and lifestyle factors. However, due to the clinic-based, cross-sectional design, results are not generalizable to the general population and do not imply causality.