The impact of sexual orientation on sexuality and sexual practices in North American medical students.
BACKGROUND
There has been limited investigation of the sexuality and sexual dysfunction in non-heterosexual subjects by the sexual medicine community. Additional research in these populations is needed.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate and compare sexuality and sexual function in students of varying sexual orientations.


METHODS
An internet-based survey on sexuality was administered to medical students in North American between the months of February and July of 2008.


METHODS
All subjects provided information on their ethnodemographic characteristics, sexual orientation, and sexual history. Subjects also completed a series of widely-utilized instruments for the assessment of human sexuality (International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF], Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI], Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool [PEDT], Index of Sex Life [ISL]).


RESULTS
There were 2,276 completed responses to the question on sexual orientation. 13.2% of male respondents and 4.7% of female respondents reported a homosexual orientation; 2.5% of male and 5.7% of female respondents reported a bisexual orientation. Many heterosexual males and females reported same-sex sexual experiences (4% and 10%, respectively). Opposite-sex experiences were very common in the male and female homosexual population (37% and 44%, respectively). The prevalence of premature ejaculation (PEDT > 8) was similar among heterosexual and homosexual men (16% and 17%, P = 0.7, respectively). Erectile dysfunction (IIEF-EF < 26) was more common in homosexual men relative to heterosexual men (24% vs. 12%, P = 0.02). High risk for female sexual dysfunction (FSFI < 26.55) was more common in heterosexual and bisexual women compared with lesbians (51%, 45%, and 29%, respectively, P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
In this survey of highly educated young professionals, numerous similarities and some important differences in sexuality and sexual function were noted based on sexual orientation. It is unclear whether the dissimilarities represent differing relative prevalence of sexual problems or discrepancies in patterns of sex behavior and interpretation of the survey questions.
Breyer
Benjamin N
BN
University of California, Department of Urology, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Smith
James F
JF
Eisenberg
Michael L
ML
Ando
Kathryn A
KA
Rowen
Tami S
TS
Shindel
Alan W
AW
D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009656:North America; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
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