title: Sexual activity of young men is not related to their anthropometric parameters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many articles have been written about the deterioration of male sexual function, mainly in relation to metabolic diseases and aging. With younger men, unless they have a complaint, sexual issues are rarely discussed during medical consultations. No articles could be found about anthropometric parameters as factors potentially influencing sexual performance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to find the anthropometric parameters with the closest correlation with sexual activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Main outcome measures included self-reported weekly intercourses, age, body weight and height, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for 531 heterosexual men aged 20-54 years were collected in three andrological centers. Past and recent morbidity, medications, and some lifestyle elements were recorded; anthropometric parameters were measured; and andrological examination was performed. The average weekly number of intercourses was asked confidentially.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean weekly coital frequency (±SD) was 2.55 ± 1.08. The highest self-reported weekly coital frequency was recorded for men between the ages of 25 and 29 (3.02 ± 1.27). Coital frequency was higher among men with a height of less than 175 cm (2.69 ± 1.24), weight of less than 78 kg (2.74 ± 1.18), normal BMI (2.74 ± 1.16), normal waist circumference (2.69 ± 1.19), and no metabolic disease (2.57 ± 1.11). Logistic regression described an inverse, statistically significant association between age and coital frequency, with the following odds ratios for coital frequency (ORcf ): ORcf≥2  = 0.932, P < 0.001; ORcf≥2.5  = 0.935, P < 0.001; ORcf≥3  = 0.940, P < 0.001; ORcf≥3.5  = 0.965, P = 0.041. Among men who reported a coital frequency of more than 3.5 times a week, waist circumference (ORcf≥3.5  = 0.986, P = 0.066) showed borderline association with lower sexual activity, while lesser height (ORcf≥3.5  = 0.951, P = 0.005) was associated with higher activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study's age range, none of the examined anthropometric parameters was perfectly correlated with sexual activity. Obesity and metabolic diseases can cause all types of sexual function to deteriorate in older age, whereas their effects may not yet be prominent at younger ages (below 45 years). Health promotion for all ages should focus on prevention of obesity so as to improve quality of life and sexual health.
authors: Department of Family and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary; Unit of Urology and Andrology, Primary Care Center, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Imre
authors: I
authors: Rurik
authors: Attila
authors: A
authors: Varga
authors: Ferenc
authors: F
authors: Fekete
authors: Timea
authors: T
authors: Ungvári
authors: János
authors: J
authors: Sándor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003075:Coitus; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D019529:Sexuality; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anthropometry; BMI; Body Height; Body Weight; Coital Frequency; Hungarian; Primary Care; Sexual Activity; Waist Circumference; Young Men