OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the association between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) and premature ejaculation and define its prevalence and factors associated among Filipino males during the Annual National Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) day.

METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross sectional study was done in all male participants during the Annual National DRE day conducted at the Institute of Urology, St. Luke's Medical Center-Quezon City. All subjects were assessed by urologists for the presence of LUTS using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT). The IPSS was categorized into total score (IPSS sum), storage symptoms (FUN - frequency, urgency, nocturia) and voiding symptoms (WISR - weak stream, intermittency, straining and residual urine). Ultrasound was also performed to obtain prostate size. The relationship between age, demographics, prostate size, IPSS scores, storage symptom score, voiding symptom score, and PEDT scores were analyzed using one way ANOVA. The statistical significance was set at P< 0.05.

RESULTS: A total of 101 male participants were included in the study. Participants' age ranged from 36 to 86, with a mean age of 61 ±. The mean IPSS was 5.79 (±6.59 SD). The most common symptom is nocturia with prevalence of 32.7%. The prevalence of PE is 26.7% and 16.8% has probable PE. There are no associations between PE and age, LUTS, storage and voiding symptoms, prostate size and co-morbid illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes showing p values of 0.291, 0.226, 0.600, 0.108, 0.908, 0.954 and 0.833 respectively. However PE was associated with weak stream (P= 0.015) and educational attainment (P=0.008).

CONCLUSION: Filipino men are becoming more concern about their health. LUTS are commonly seen in men in increasing age. PE is a very common male sexual dysfunction so there is a need for identification of such patients (17). Although, no correlation has been made between age, LUTS and PE in this study, however in further correlational analysis, educational status seems to have an impact in the self-reporting PE which may be due to higher awareness of participants with higher education. It is recommended that clinicians always utilize the screening questions for PE to give the appropriate treatment, since patients are often unwilling to volunteer their symptoms on PE (4.17). Our study also showed significant correlation with PE and weak stream, without association to prostate size. relating to a possible neurologic physiologic pathway rather than anatomic etiology of PE. Further study is recommended.