Sorry, Honey, I'm Genetically Defective

Science will find you an excuse for everything.

It can leave men feeling like a failure in the bedroom and damage even the strongest marriages.

The problem of premature ejaculation has long been linked with psychological issues - but now scientists say it could be something that is inherited.

Researchers have found men for whom sex is over all too quickly are more likely to have a genetic abnormality.

These men carried a defect in a gene that controls the release of dopamine, a chemical 'neurotransmitter' that plays a crucial role in everything from movement and attention span to the brain's perception of pleasure and reward.

The researchers in Sweden and Finland believe drugs that boost dopamine levels in the brain could be a new way of treating a condition that affects one in four men in the UK.

As far back as the 1970s, researchers noted that dopamine-based drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease had an aphrodisiac affect on some patients.

But until now, most experts agreed premature ejaculation was probably linked with psychological issues - such as difficulty relaxing during sex.

Treatments usually involve relaxation techniques, although doctors do sometimes prescribe anti-depressants to control anxiety.

The latest study, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggests the problem may be passed down through the generations.

Maybe they ought to think about working some Jack Daniels into the equation.

Speaking of genetic abnormalities, news out of Seattle brings us this harsh news about discrimination. You would think the ACLU would be on to something like this.

Three bisexual men are suing a national gay-athletic organization, saying they were discriminated against during the Gay Softball World Series held in the Seattle area two years ago.

The three Bay Area men say the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance in essence deemed them not gay enough to participate in the series.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle accuses the alliance of violating Washington state laws barring discrimination. The alliance organizes the annual Gay Softball World Series.

Beth Allen, the alliance's attorney, said the lawsuit is unwarranted and that the three plaintiffs "were not discriminated against in any unlawful manner."

In any case, Allen said, the alliance is a private organization and, as such, can determine its membership based on its goals.

Via Ace, where there's more than enough commentary on this tragic case of civil rights violations.