The International Society of Sexual Medicine (ISSM) recognises four subtypes of PE:​​

• Lifelong PE: characterized by PE symptoms present since first sexual intercours

• Acquired PE: characterized by PE symptoms beginning after a period of normal ejaculatory function

• Natural variable PE: characterized by short ejaculatory latency which occurs irregularly and inconsistently with some subjective sense of diminished control of ejaculation

• Subjective PE: characterized by one or more of the following:

​1. subjective perception of consistent or inconsistent short intravaginal ejaculation  latency time (IELT);

2. preoccupation with an imagined short ejaculatory latency or lack of control over the timing of ejaculation;

3. actual IELT in the normal range or even of longer duration (i.e. an ejaculation that occurs after 5 minutes);

4. ability to control ejaculation (i.e. to withhold ejaculation at the moment of imminent ejaculation) that may be diminished or lacking and;

5. the preoccupation that is not better accounted for by another mental disorder.