title: Sexual Difficulties and Associated Sexual Distress in Flanders (Belgium): A Representative Population-Based Survey Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because severity and duration of sexual impairment and any distress caused by the sexual impairment are not assessed in most epidemiologic studies on sexual dysfunction, the available prevalence rates are probably an overestimation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide prevalence estimates of severe and persistent sexual difficulties that cause personal distress and to explore the association between personal sexual distress and avoidance of sex, help-seeking behavior, and sexual satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used home-based computer-assisted personal interviewing and computer-assisted self-interviewing of a representative, randomly selected, population-based cross-sectional sample of 651 Flemish men and 695 women 14 to 80 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of sexual difficulties, prevalence of sexual dysfunctions (ie, sexual difficulties causing personal distress), and association of sexual distress with avoidance of sex, help-seeking behavior, and sexual satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this sample, 43.5% of women (95% CI =39.7-47.3) and 34.8% of men (95% CI =31.3-38.3) reported a moderate to severe sexual difficulty. When considering the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (ie, minimum duration of 6 months and presence of personal sexual distress), prevalence rates decreased to 19.0% in women (95% CI =16.0-22.0) and to 15.1% in men (95% CI =12.4-17.8). Sexual distress was associated with more sexual dissatisfaction and greater sexual avoidance. Sexual distress also was associated with help-seeking behavior, although most individuals with distressing sexual difficulties had not sought help.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although sexual difficulties per se are quite prevalent, severe and persistent sexual difficulties causing sexual distress are far less common. Despite sexual distress being associated with avoidance of sex and lower sexual satisfaction, most people tend not to seek help for their sexual problem, even when being distressed by the problem.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Family and Sexuality studies, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: lies.hendrickx@med.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Lies
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hendrickx
authors.affiliation: Institute for Family and Sexuality studies, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luk
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gijs
authors.affiliation: Institute for Family and Sexuality studies, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enzlin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001143:Arousal; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Age; Population-Based; Prevalence; Sexual Distress; Sexual Dysfunction