Premature ejaculation (PE) is recognized as the most prevalent sexual dysfunction among men, with a complex etiology. However, limited research has examined the prevalence and contributing factors of PE in young men. This study aims to explore the risk factors and associated conditions of PE among young Taiwanese men.

This cross-sectional study was approved by the Taipei City Hospital Ethics Committee (IRB number: TCHIRB-11107012-E). Sexually active Taiwanese men between the ages of 20 and 40 were recruited via an online questionnaire. The survey collected general demographic information, exercise habits, medical conditions, the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), and screening questionnaires for temporomandibular disorder (TMD), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), migraine or tension headaches, localized myofascial pain disorder (LMP), fibromyalgia (FM), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Participants who reported IIEF-5 score ≤ 21 and PEDT ≥ 11 were classified as having erectile dysfunction (ED) and PE, respectively. Pearson’s chi-square test and one-way ANOVA test were conducted to compare groups with PE, probable PE, and those without PE. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of PE in young men.

Among the 2,744 participants, 10.6% were diagnosed with PE, while 55.8% had ED. Those with PE exhibited a higher prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), LMP, FM, and ED (Table 1). Univariate analysis indicated that BPH, LMP, and ED were significantly associated with PE. In multivariate logistic regression, ED (odds ratio [OR] 3.672, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.720–4.957; p < 0.001) and LMP (OR 1.332, 95% CI 1.001–1.773; p = 0.049) were identified as independent predictors of PE (Table 2).

This study found that 10.6% of young Taiwanese men aged 20–40 years experience PE. Furthermore, ED and LMP were determined to be independent predictors for PE in this population.