Shock therapy for sex? nerve zaps may help premature ejaculation

NCT ID NCT04207723

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a mild electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the ankle could help men with premature ejaculation. 120 men were split into three groups: TENS alone, standard drug (paroxetine) alone, or both together. The goal was to see if the nerve zap could improve ejaculation timing and satisfaction, possibly offering a drug-free alternative.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (TENS) and paroxetine
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a non-drug treatment option for premature ejaculation, either alone or combined with standard medication.
What could go wrong
This is a completed trial, but results are not yet widely reported. The nerve stimulation approach is still experimental and may not work better than existing treatments.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

120 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jul 2020

Finished

Apr 2026

Lead sponsor

A company

The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 80 years

Sex

Male participants only

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Primary premature ejaculation as defined by the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM-International Society for Sexual Medicine) (30): a) ejaculation occurs always or almost always within the first minute after penetration, b) disability to delay ejaculation in all or almost all penetrations, c) negative personal consequences are generated, such as stress, discomfort, frustration and / or avoidance of sexual intimacy. * Age equal to or greater than 18 years. * PEDT score greater than 11. * Stable heterosexual relationship of at least 6 months with the interest of maintaining it for at least the duration of the study. * Sexual activity at least once a week. * Minimum chronicity of PE of 6 months. * Voluntary participation in the study. * Signature of informed consent prior to participation in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * IIEF-EF score greater than 25. * Clinically significant comorbidity: cardiovascular, hepatic, thromboembolic, neurological, locomotive, endocrine, oncological, renal or rheumatologic. * History of retroperitoneal surgery, radiotherapy or multiple sclerosis. * History of mental illness: depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, bipolar disorder, agoraphobia, dysthymia, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress, psychiatric disorder, referred by the patient or by the use of a medication for one of these terms. * Consumption of medications that affect ejaculatory control such as psychiatric medications, opioid analgesics, alpha blockers. * Treatment for PD in the last 3 months. * Treatment for epileptic syndromes or Parkinson's disease. * Use of pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator. * Skin lesions in the electrode placement area. * Abuse or dependence on piscoactive substances: alcohol, hallucinogenic drugs. * Couple in a state of pregnancy.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Boston Medical Group

    Bogotá, 110111, Colombia

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