VietNamNet Bridge – More Vietnamese men are seeking medical attention for premature ejaculation, according to Dr Nguyen Quang from the Viet Nam-German Hospital.

The hospital's Andrology Centre recorded a sharp increase in the number of male health check-ups, with about 50 patients visiting per day, up from an average of one to two patients per day a decade ago.

Previous research conducted by the hospital in the first six month of 2012 showed that nearly 7,000 men had gone to the centre for health checks, with more than 400 suffering from premature ejaculation.

The research also showed a heightened awareness of male-oriented conditions among young Vietnamese men, with the average age of patients being 29 years old.

Mai Ba Tien Dung, head of the HCM City-based Binh Dan Hospital's Andrology Ward said that about 200 patients visited the ward per day, with around 40 needing to be checked for premature ejaculation.

Andrological experts said the rise in premature ejaculation had been caused by youth engaging in sexual activity at an earlier age and excessive masturbation.

Quang said one 12-year old male patient had had to undergo surgery for premature ejaculation, with the boy admitting he had six separate sexual partners, one of whom had advised him to see a doctor.

"People are often worried that they will be discovered by other people during sexual intercourse so they often hurry to ejaculate. It gradually becomes a recurring condition," said Quang.

Most patients also failed to understand the underlying causes of the condition, with many believing premature ejaculation stemmed from tiredness, stress or anxiety.

Instead of going to the hospital, sufferers would typically search for medicines online or seek traditional remedies, he said, adding that premature ejaculation was caused by lack of serotonin in the brain.

According to Dr Dung, most patients went to the hospital within two years of discovering the condition, while some lived with the condition for as long as 30 years before seeking medical help.

VNS/VNN