title: Epidemiology/risk factors of sexual dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accurate estimates of prevalence/incidence are important in understanding the true burden of male and female sexual dysfunction and in identifying risk factors for prevention efforts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide recommendations/guidelines concerning state-of-the-art knowledge for the epidemiology/risk factors of sexual dysfunctions in men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  An International Consultation in collaboration with the major urology and sexual medicine associations assembled over 200 multidisciplinary experts from 60 countries into 17 committees. Committee members established specific objectives and scopes for various male and female sexual medicine topics. The recommendations concerning state-of-the-art knowledge in the respective sexual medicine topic represent the opinion of experts from five continents developed in a process over a 2-year period. Concerning the Epidemiology/Risk Factors Committee, there were seven experts from four countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expert opinion was based on grading of evidence-based medical literature, widespread internal committee discussion, public presentation and debate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Standard definitions of male and female sexual dysfunctions are needed. The incidence rate for erectile dysfunction is 25-30 cases per thousand person years and increases with age. There are no parallel data for women's sexual dysfunctions. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction increases as men and women age; about 40-45% of adult women and 20-30% of adult men have at least one manifest sexual dysfunction. Common risk factor categories associated with sexual dysfunction exist for men and women including: individual general health status, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, other genitourinary disease, psychiatric/psychological disorders, other chronic diseases, and socio-demographic conditions. Endothelial dysfunction is a condition present in many cases of erectile dysfunction and there are common etiological pathways for other vascular disease states. Increasing physical activity lowers incidence of ED in males who initiate follow-up in their middle ages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for more epidemiologic research in male and female sexual dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA. rlewis@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Kersten S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Fugl-Meyer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Axel R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fugl-Meyer
authors.forename: Edward O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Laumann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lizza
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin-Morales
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology