Sexual dysfunction in the Australian population.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence and forms of sexual dysfunction experienced by Australians, and compare these with people in the United States.


METHODS
A cross sectional, telephone interview survey of a randomly selected sample of men (n = 876) and women (n = 908) aged between 18 and 59 years on the electoral roll in all states and territories of Australia (response rate = 61%) was conducted between November 1999 and April 2000.


RESULTS
Large proportions of Australian men (55.0%) and women (60.5%) reported at least one sexual problem within the preceding year. More serious sexual dysfunction (> 3 symptoms) was observed in 13.2% of men and 19.7% of women.


CONCLUSIONS
Australia and the USA are similar with regard to the high rate of symptoms of sexual dysfunction observed in the population. The low rate of treatment points to both patient and doctor reluctance to discuss sexual performance and practices.
Najman
Jake M
JM
Schools of Social Science and Population Health, University of Queensland. j.najman@uq.edu.au
Dunne
Michael P
MP
Boyle
Frances M
FM
Cook
Michelle D
MD
Purdie
David M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology