Women more likely to seek help with sexual problems

30 November -0001

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The results of two surveys show that the majority of the British public at some time suffer from sexual problems. The two studies show that between a quarter and a third of men and over half of women have experienced sexual problems, and nearly half of women and almost a quarter of men have asked their family doctor for advice about sexual problems.

The studies in the British Medical Journal indicate that sexual difficulties are common in the population it also shows that women are more willing to seek an answer than men, with almost twice as many women talking to the GP about there problems.

The commonest problem was lack of interest in sex in both men and women, men complained of erectile dysfunction, particularly now that the availability of Viagra has been so widely publicized, common complaint amongst women was a failure to experience an orgasm.

Irwin Nazareth, professor of primary care and population sciences at the Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, said that given the extent of the problems, GPs may need training on how to deal with their patients.

The second study, led by Dr Catherine Mercer and colleagues from the Centre for Infectious disease epidemiology at the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London and the lead author of the nationwide study involving over 11,000 people aged 16-44, said that it was the first such report of its kind. "It is such a sensitive issue that I don't think it is easy to do, but we asked these questions as part of a national survey of sexual attitudes," she said. "We used laptop computers, so it is completely confidential. That may encourage people to be honest."

Both studies found that one of the biggest problems for both men and women was a loss of interest in sex the widespread nature of sexual problems will come as no surprise to counsellors and therapists working in the area, but have not generally been disclosed before.

"Doctors may be reluctant to record sensitive material, and hence general practitioners' records do not accurately reflect the extent of their involvement in this area," the report says, adding that GPs need to be alert to the possibility of problems and need training in how to deal with them. But although many men now seek out Viagra, not all sexual problems will have a pill for an answer. The medicine is not necessarily going to solve the bedroom problems of the British, there may be nothing that doctors could or should do about the absence of desire.

Further evidence is needed that the relatively common complaint of lack or loss of sexual desire is an obstacle to satisfactory sexual relations or that a medical solution is indicated," they write. "For many people, reduced sexual interest or response may be a normal adaptation to stress or an unsatisfactory relationship."

Relate, the relationship counselling charity, say that if the relationship is good, then a sex life that has faded can be revived, but if the relationship it's self is iffy, then sex is likely to suffer.

Lifestyle is a factor, the UK works the longest hours in Europe. When you talk to people about job security, they feel there isn't any, there are financial problems. All this can be niggling away at you, causing anxiety and when you are in an anxious state, the last thing you feel able to do is perform well in the bedroom.

Relate found however, that sex troubles don't only with middle age or in long-term relationships where the thrill was gone, experience in the clinic’s is that people in their late teens and early 20s who have not long been living together or are in the early stages of a relationship, are just as likely to suffer problems.

A jaded palate is definitely a problem and case history demonstrated how little partners talked to each other about sex and how they expect it will always be as it was at first.Children, the mortgage and the increasing girth that destroys a lithe and youthful body all play a part, but there are different ways to have a good sexual relationship.

For all the problems, the survey of GP patients reports that 64% of men are at the end of the day satisfied with their sex life, although less than half the women - 49% - would say so.

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