Family Practice, Vol 15, 519-524, Copyright © 1998 by World Organization of Family Doctors
KM Dunn, PR Croft and GI Hackett
BACKGROUND: There has been little research carried out on the prevalence
and types of sexual dysfunction in the general population, although the
indications are that such problems are relatively common. Most common
sexual problems are potentially treatable. However GPs have estimated the
prevalence of sexual problems to be far lower than survey estimates.
OBJECTIVE: To provide an estimate of the prevalence of sexual problems in
the general population, and assess the use of and need for professional
help for such problems. METHODS: We used an anonymous postal questionnaire
survey. The study was set in four general practices in England*, and the
study population was a stratified random sample of the adult general
population (n = 4000). The subjects were 789 men and 979 women who
responded to the questionnaire. The main outcome measures were the presence
and type of current sexual problems in men and women, and the provision and
use of treatments for sexual problems. RESULTS: A response rate of 44% was
obtained. The median age of the responders was 50 years. A third of men
(34%) and two-fifths of women (41 %) reported having a current sexual
problem. The most common problems were erectile dysfunction (n = 170) and
premature ejaculation (n = 88) in men; in women the most widely reported
problems were vaginal dryness (n = 186) and infrequent orgasm (n = 166). In
men, the proportion of responders reporting sexual problems increased with
age, but there was no similar trend in women. Of those responders who
reported a sexual problem, 52% said that they would like to receive
professional help for this problem, but only one in ten of these people (n
= 50) had received such help. CONCLUSION: Among responders there was a high
level of reported sexual problems. The most frequently reported problems
(vaginal dryness, erectile problems) may be amenable to physical treatment
in practice, and yet few had sought or received help. However, many said
that they would like to receive help. These figures suggest that there may
be an important burden of potentially reversible sexual problems in the
general population.
ORIGINAL CLINICAL RESEARCH
Sexual problems: a study of the prevalence and need for health care in the general population
Industrial and Community Health Research Centre, Keele University School of Postgraduate Medicine, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
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