title: Sexual behaviour, sexual dysfunctions and related help seeking patterns in middle-aged and elderly Europeans: the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors.
abstract: To study the sexual activity and the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions and related help seeking behaviour, among people in Europe aged 40-80 years. A telephone survey was carried out in 2001-2002 in Sweden, the UK, Belgium, Germany, Austria, France, Spain and Italy, of 4,977 men and 5,023 women, using a structured, standardized questionnaire Eighty-three percent of men and 66% of women had sexual intercourse during the year preceding the interview. The sexual dysfunctions most frequently reported were early ejaculation (11%) and erectile dysfunction (8%) in men; and a lack of sexual interest (18%), an inability to reach orgasm (13%) and lubrication difficulties (11%) in women. Of the 23% of men and 32% of women who reported sexual dysfunction, 26% had consulted a physician, with considerable between-country differences. Sexual activity is widespread among adult middle-aged and elderly people, but many experience sexual dysfunctions and few seek medical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090, Segrate (MI), Milan, Italy. alfredo.nicolosi@itb.cnr.it
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buvat
authors.forename: Dale B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Glasser
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Edward O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Laumann
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gingell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003075:Coitus; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*