Loose nerves and weak blood: a thematic analysis of premature ejaculation in Bangladeshi Muslim men

The objectives of this study were to examine the accounts of Bangladeshi Muslim men with premature ejaculation (PE) and to qualitatively explore self-reported causation. Twenty-three men with either lifelong or acquired PE were interviewed using a semi-structured schedule. Participant's responses were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Three common themes were identified, biomedical, psychological and cultural, that were used to explain PE, with a ‘preference’ for biomedical causation. Each theme had sub-themes that were used to explain ‘acceptable’ forms of sexual practice and subsequent help-seeking behaviours. Using thematic analysis, we identified core themes that appear to characterize the way individuals with PE perceive themselves and their interpersonal relationships. Thematic analysis offers a promising tool to explore how men with PE ‘explain’ their sexual responses to themselves and their partners.