A smartphone app designed to tackle the psychological factors linked to premature ejaculation may help some men improve control during sex, according to new research. Researchers said the self-guided tool, which can be used privately at home, could offer support to men who feel too embarrassed to seek professional treatment. The app, called Melonga, combines techniques developed by urologists and psychologists, including behavioural strategies, practical exercises and elements of cognitive behavioural therapy aimed at helping users manage arousal and improve ejaculation control.
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The findings come from the Climacs study, led by researchers in Germany, which followed 80 men over a 12-week period. Participants, none of whom had underlying health conditions, completed questionnaires about their sexual experiences and used a stopwatch to record the time between penetration and ejaculation.
By the end of the programme, 66 men had submitted complete data. According to the researchers, those who used the app increased the average time to ejaculation from 61 seconds to 125 seconds — an improvement of just over one minute. By contrast, men who did not use the app recorded an average increase of only 0.5 seconds.
The study also found that, after 12 weeks, 22 per cent of app users said they no longer experienced premature ejaculation. Lead researcher Dr Christer Groeben, of Marburg University and the Medical Faculty Heidelberg at Heidelberg University, said many men do not seek help because of the stigma surrounding the condition. He said the findings suggested that a home-based digital tool could help users improve control and enjoy a more satisfying sex life without sacrificing spontaneity.
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Dr Groeben also argued that commonly available pharmacy treatments often focus on symptoms rather than underlying causes, which may lead some men to stop using them over time. As a result, he said, many remain undertreated and continue to experience psychological strain that can affect relationships.
He added that seeking medical support can feel daunting, and suggested that an app of this kind may help bridge that gap by presenting the condition as manageable and treatable. Melonga is currently available in Ireland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Belgium. The findings were presented at the European Association of Urology Annual Congress, EAU26, in London.
Commenting on the results, Dr Giorgio Russo, associate professor of urology at the University of Catania and chairman of the EAU Office of Young Academic Urologists, said men dealing with premature ejaculation are often faced with a mix of reliable advice and misinformation. He said the app offered a single evidence-based resource created by specialists.
Dr Russo said the results were particularly notable because nearly a quarter of users were reportedly treated successfully without medication. He added that a larger study would now be useful, particularly one examining the effect of digital treatment on partners’ satisfaction as well as the experience of users themselves.
