Ideal time and self-reported time to ejaculate, frequent use of virtual pornography, and disorders of ejaculation among internet users in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil. Cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Almost half (46%) of adult men living in São Paulo metropolis who responded an anonymous survey think they ejaculate earlier than it would be ideal. Only 10% watched virtual pornography frequently (every day or for several hours 2-4 days a week). No associations were found between ejaculation disorders and frequent use of virtual pornography. ■ About one in every 10 social network male users in São Paulo frequently use virtual pornography. ■ Over half of the respondents believed that the ideal time to ejaculate would be of 15 minutes or more. ■ Frequent use of virtual pornography was not associated with ejaculation disorders.

Objective: To investigate the association between frequent use of virtual pornography, perceptions of the ideal time to ejaculate, and changes in ejaculation.

Methods: Adult men living in São Paulo metropolis responded to an online anonymous survey between May 2019 and March 2020. The questions were about sociodemographics, sexual behavior, frequency and time of virtual pornography use, and responses to three instruments for assessing ejaculation disorders: self-reported estimated time from vaginal or anal penetration to ejaculation; self-assessment of what is a normal, premature, or delayed ejaculation, and the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT).

Results: Of 528 participants, 27.3% said the ideal time (for them and for the partner) to ejaculate during sex with a partner would be 6-15 minutes, and for 44.1%, longer than 15 minutes. However, 45.8% said they usually ejaculate earlier than the ideal time. Only 55 men (10.4%; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI= 7.9-13.3) participants were frequent users of virtual pornography (defined as the use during solitary masturbation for at least one hour/day every day or many hours/day two to four times/week). Frequent use of pornography was associated with not being heterosexual (odds ratio, OR= 1.81; 95%CI= 1.02-3.23), lower educational level (OR= 2.21; 95%CI= 1.12-4.32) and using virtual pornography during sexual intercourse (OR= 2.58; 95%CI= 1.21-5.48). No associations were observed between frequent virtual pornography use and ejaculation disorders.

Conclusion: Approximately half of the men surveyed are not satisfied with the time they take to ejaculate and around 10% of them use virtual pornography frequently, although this is not associated with ejaculation dysfunction.