Dhikav V et al. (2007) Yoga in premature ejaculation: a comparative trial with fluoxetine. J Sex Med 4: 1726–1732

Researchers in India have evaluated yoga as a treatment for premature ejaculation. Dhikav et al. recruited 68 patients with premature ejaculation; patients chose either a 12-week course of yoga or pharmacological treatment with fluoxetine (20–60 mg/day for 12 weeks), and were assessed 4 and 8 weeks after treatment.

Yoga was practiced by 38 patients, and 30 took fluoxetine. The yoga regimen was aimed at improving the muscle tone and plasticity of the pelvic and perineal muscles. Improvements observed after 4 weeks were not significant. At 8 weeks, all patients in the yoga group and 25 patients (82.3%) in the fluoxetine group had significant improvements in ejaculatory latency time. The mean ejaculatory latency time improved from 33.2 s to 112.8 s in the yoga group, and from 29.9 s to 64.1 s in the fluoxetine group (P <0.0001 for both). In the yoga group, the effects of treatment were rated by the patients' wives; improvement was reported as good in 25 patients and fair in 13. Nausea was reported by 14 patients in the fluoxetine group as an adverse effect; other adverse effects reported in this group were insomnia, vomiting and anxiety. No adverse events were reported in the yoga group.

The authors conclude that yoga is a safe, well-tolerated and effective treatment for premature ejaculation. The positive effect of yoga on premature ejaculation might be due to improvement in anxiety control.