Incidence and persistence/recurrence of men's sexual difficulties: findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships.
This study presents data on the prevalence, incidence, and persistence/recurrence of 8 sexual difficulties among men. Participants were 3,157 Australian men who were administered 2 computer-assisted interviews approximately 12 months apart. Analyses were based on a weighted sample of 2,158 men who were 20-64 years of age, sexually active in the past 12 months, and in the same heterosexual relationship at both interviews. Upon recruitment, a third of men (34%) reported having 1 or more sexual difficulties. At follow-up, 21% reported a new sexual difficulty. The 2 highest incident difficulties were "lacking interest in having sex" (11%) and "reaching orgasm too quickly" (7%). In addition, 51% of men with 1 or more sexual difficulties at recruitment reported having at least 1 of these difficulties again at follow-up. While "trouble keeping an erection" had the highest persistence/recurrence (48%), "taking too long to orgasm" had the lowest (24%). Logistic regression modeling revealed a greater incidence of orgasmic difficulties among older and less educated men. There were few sociodemographic predictors of persistence/recurrence. These data should assist clinicians and other health service providers in identifying the potential challenges faced by men who experience sexual difficulties.
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. anthony.smith@latrobe.edu.au
Anthony M A
AM
Smith
Anthony
A
Lyons
Jason A
JA
Ferris
Juliet
J
Richters
Marian K
MK
Pitts
Julia M
JM
Shelley
Judy M
JM
Simpson
Kent
K
Patrick
Wendy
W
Heywood
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*