Highlights
- Premature ejaculation (PE) affects the sex lives of millions of people worldwide.
- A wearable patch for PE can help men last 3.1 times longer between the sheets.
- Virility Medical’s in2 device is an adhesive patch already available in the U.K.
- Scientific studies point to wearable PE patches as viable alternatives to drugs like dapoxetine.
Premature ejaculation (PE) affects an estimated 30% of men and can cause significant strain on a man’s relationships and self-esteem.
We now have a wearable patch for PE in addition to the drug dapoxetine to treat this annoying and stressful condition. Wearable patches for PE can make you last 3.1 times longer, improving the quality of sex and extending the time lovers spend together.
What Is a Wearable Patch for PE?
A wearable patch for PE is an electronic device you can apply to the area between your anus and testicles, called the perineum. The patch stimulates the muscles and nerve endings in the area with an electric current. The current activates neurotransmitter receptors involved in ejaculation, delaying it. Wearable patches for PE are drug- and chemical-free, and you can use them on demand.
The Definition of Premature Ejaculation
The “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-V) defines it as ejaculation that occurs in less than one minute of penetration, has been occurring for at least six months, happens in 75 to 100 percent of attempts, and causes distress.
While PE is nothing to be ashamed of, it can place considerable strain on a man’s well-being and relationships, and until recently, we didn’t have any effective non-drug options for it.
We Can Now Treat Premature Ejaculation
ED medications are the gold standard for restoring the ability to get and maintain an erection. While they can also be helpful for premature ejaculation, they don’t work well for all men, and they are most effective when taken with an antidepressant. And some men find that antidepressants suppress their sex drive.
Moreover, erection and orgasm are caused by two separate nerve signals, so ED medications that only correct the erection signal don’t affect the sensitivity that causes premature ejaculation.
Some other treatments for premature ejaculation, like numbing creams, can even worsen the symptoms of ED. They can also inhibit your partner’s ability to climax, in case of having sex without a physical barrier like a condom. They may help men last longer, but the fact that you’re putting the equivalent of novocaine on your penis can lead to a less-than-enjoyable experience for some men and their partners.
Dapoxetine, the only drug currently approved in some countries for the treatment of PE, produces results similar to wearable patches. Dapoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. For the best results, men suffering from PE can take it one hour before sexual activity. Because dapoxetine is an antidepressant, it can have the same side effects, most notably nausea, dizziness, headaches, weight gain, and drowsiness.
What’s more, dapoxetine is not FDA approved for use in the U.S.
How Does a Wearable Device for Premature Ejaculation Work?
The technology is pioneering a new category of PE treatment through neuromodulation. Instead of working as a drug or chemical, the PE patch is a novel transcutaneous electrical stimulation device (TES).
You may be familiar with another iteration of this technology, the TENS unit, which uses electrical pulses to reduce painful neuromuscular signals in patients with chronic back pain.
The concept here is much the same, except instead of placing the patch over the lower back, it’s placed gently upon the magical no-man’s-land between your testicles and anus, also known as the perineum, or more colloquially, the “taint” or “gooch.”
From there, the patch generates small electrical pulses that reduce the rhythmic perineal muscle contractions that lead to orgasm.
Those contractions generate nerve signals to the brain that are integral to triggering the orgasm response. Men with PE appear to overproduce these nerve signals, which build to an orgasm significantly faster than usual. Applying this small electrical current results in interference with the conduction of the signals to the brain, so they build in a slower, more-controlled fashion.
The key to how wearable patches for PE work is the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) and its receptors. Other neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine, oxytocin, nitric oxide, adrenaline, and acetylcholine may also be involved, but 5-HT is the predominant factor.
In people with PE, the serotonin receptors receive too much stimulation. The currents from a wearable PE patch activate a host of receptors that “steal” 5-HT from the primary serotonin receptors, reducing their stimulation. The current may also accelerate the removal of 5-HT from its primary receptors, reducing its effects.
Two medical device companies have been developing wearable treatments for PE: Virility Medical and Morari Medical.
Virility Medical Device – in2
Virility Medical has released two wearable PE patch options for the U.K. market, called in2 and in2 Smart.
The in2 patch is a simple skin patch the user applies to the perineum before a sexual encounter. In2 delivers transcutaneous neuromuscular stimulation automatically, allowing users to better control their pelvic floor muscles and delay their ejaculation. The device features an on/off button. It is NOT reusable. The producer warns against transferring devices between users and reusing them.
According to Virility Medical, the technology behind the patch has been used commercially for years. The in2 patch is safe and easy to apply. It is barely noticeable when worn, and its effects are on-demand and immediate.
The in2 Smart patch is a Bluetooth-connected version of the product. It allows users to control the intensity of the stimulation it delivers with a smartphone. With it, users can explore the limits of their sexual performance. They can even hand control of the device to their partners to add an arousing twist to the time they spend together.
Virility Medical called the preliminary version of their wearable patch for PE vPATCH. And vPATCH has proven its mettle scientifically several times already. The latest study involving the product featured 59 participants aged 21-56 with lifelong PE.
The study entailed three hospital visits. The first one allowed researchers to measure patients’ intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) over two weeks.
Following this period, doctors determined patient eligibility on the second visit. They looked at sexual and medical histories and measured IELT values. Then, they divided the group into two arms and issued one a vPATCH device and the other — a control group — similar-looking sham devices.
On the third visit, doctors looked at the measured IELT values again, considering Clinical Global Impression of Change scores and having participants fill out PE profile questionnaires. As part of the study, doctors also analyzed the safety profile of the device.
Unlike previous studies, the current one looked at vPATCH’s impact on PE during sexual acts involving vaginal penetration, not masturbation.
In the active group, IELT values increased significantly by 3.1 times. The geometric mean values of IELT went from 67 seconds to 123 seconds in this group. The sham group showed a much less significant increase — from 63 to 81 seconds.
The researchers noticed no adverse effects during the study. Although its results are promising, the study has a few limitations:
- 59 patients represent a small sample.
- The follow-up inspection and data collection are short-term.
- The study didn’t feature any patients with acquired PE.
- The device’s mechanism of action is still theoretical only.
However, the in2 and in2 Smart — under the original name of vPatch — proved the concept of drug-free, non-invasive, on-demand PE treatment to be viable and safe.
In earlier studies, the device being tested was connected to an external battery via small wires. Some participants complained about the positioning of these wires. The newer version of the device is wireless, eliminating that concern.
Commercial Availability
Virility is already marketing its device in the U.K. The in2 starter kit is priced at £48 and contains two patches, a high-intensity and a low-intensity version.
American buyers can sign up on the Virility site to be notified when the product is available for purchase in the U.S.
Morari Medical Device – MOR
Sexual health and wellness company Morari Medical announced its product at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). There was much fanfare, and the internet resounded with childish glee at the chance to use terms like “taint Band-Aid.”
Another interesting aside: The word morari is Latin for “linger” or “delay.” We thought that was pretty clever. And so is the name of the product the company is currently marketing as MOR.
In terms of mechanism of action, MOR is similar to Virility’s in2: They both work via transcutaneous electrical stimulation in the perineal area that slows the neuromuscular signals that trigger premature orgasm in men.
Following the CES announcement, Morari invested a lot of resources in improving the effectiveness and usability of its patch. They found an adhesive for the patch that keeps it in place before and during use but can be removed without discomfort. MOR is also controllable via Bluetooth connection to the app on Android or iOS smartphones.
Their efforts seem to have ground to a halt lately, however. They seem to have a marketable product, but people can’t buy it yet.
Morari was hoping to announce the results of its “DELAID” study by the end of 2021. DELAID is a clinical trial designed to test the effectiveness and safety of their patch in men within the context of a committed relationship. The study completed enrollment shortly after the 2020 CES trade show, but its results haven’t surfaced yet. We weren’t able to discover the reasons for the, um, delay, but you can sign up on their website to be notified of new developments.
In2 vs. MOR vs. Dapoxetine
Following is a chart comparing the three methods for controlling premature ejaculation.
How eDrugstore Can Help
A wearable patch for PE is an on-demand, drug-free solution to premature ejaculation. To learn more about premature ejaculation and its causes and treatments, read Your Guide to Premature Ejaculation [Latest Research + Videos].
We also carry many options for managing premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction, both prescription and non-prescription. Check out our extensive inventory today!
Randall is a medical writer with years of experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. After earning his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, he worked as an infusion and specialty pharmacist, where he discovered his passion for making trustworthy healthcare information accessible to everyone.
