As medicine and lifestyle become inextricably mixed, dealing with issues concerning
sexual dysfunction is more common. The explosion of interest in male erectile
problems is just one part of this, so any study which sheds more light on just how
common problems are is helpful.
Study
As part of a US National Health and Social Life Survey, questions were asked of men
and women aged between 18 and 59 years [1]. There were 1410 men and 1749 women, with
exclusions of people living in group quarters (barracks, dormitories, prisons) and
people not fluent in English. Seventy-nine percent of people asked took part in the
survey.
Results
The answers for six questions given to both men and women are shown in the Table.
|
Question
|
Percent
|
|
Women
|
| Lack interest in sex |
32 |
| Unable to achieve orgasm |
26 |
| Experience pain during sex |
16 |
| Sex not pleasurable |
23 |
| Anxious about performance |
12 |
| Trouble lubricating |
21 |
|
Men
|
| Lack interest in sex |
15 |
| Unable to achieve orgasm |
8 |
| Climax too early |
31 |
| Sex not pleasurable |
8 |
| Anxious about performance |
18 |
| Trouble achieving or maintaining erection |
10 |
For most questions there was little difference in response rates
with age, except pain during sex (higher in the youngest age group of women), sex
not pleasurable (lowest in the oldest age group of women), and trouble achieving
or maintaining an erection (increased with age in men, Figure).
|
Clearly there was a high overall rate of problems, with 32% of women lacking
interest in sex, 26% unable to achieve orgasm and 16% experiencing pain during
sex. For men, early climax and anxiety about performance were major problems, but
in the age group of 50-59 years 18% had trouble achieving or maintaining an
erection.
The study also showed that the experience of sexual dysfunction is highly
associated with unsatisfying personal experiences and relationships. There were
strong (and probably causal) relationships between low sexual desire or
performance with low physical and emotional satisfaction and low general
happiness.
Comment
When clever chemists, by chance or design, develop safe and effective drugs
which help women achieve an orgasm, or which relieve pain during sex, then there
will be a stampede to obtain those drugs, just as there has been for effective
treatments for male erectile dysfunction. For many people poor sexual life
translates into lower general happiness.
Given that most people recognise that life is not a rehearsal, but the real
thing, and that sexual problems are common, then you don't have to be a rocket
scientist to see this as a major growth area. In the UK, and probably in other
countries, some imaginative solutions will be needed to how we deal with
lifestyle, health and medical resources.
Reference:
- EO Laumann, A Paik, RC Rosen. Sexual dysfunction in the United States:
prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999 281: 537-544.
|
previous
or
next
story in this issue
