Lidocaine/prilocaine spray for premature ejaculation

Although premature ejaculation is the most common ejaculation problem, it is poorly understood and currently has no standard definition. 1 Typically, it involves reduced time to ejaculation, inability to control or delay ejaculation and associated distress. 1-5 Treatments that have been assessed include psychosexual counselling, antidepressants (e.g. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors, tramadol and topical anaesthetic agents (e.g. lidocaine/prilocaine cream). A new formulation (cutaneous spray) of lidocaine/prilocaine (Fortacin-Plethora Solutions Ltd.) was launched in the UK in November 2016 for the treatment of primary premature ejaculation. 6,7 Here, we consider the evidence for lidocaine/prilocaine spray and whether it has a role in the treatment of premature ejaculation.