Prevalence of male and female sexual problems, perceptions related to sex and association with quality of life in a Chinese population: a population-based study

Abstract

The prevalence of sexual problems (SP) and sexual satisfaction and their associations with sexrelated perceptions and quality of life (QOL) were investigated by interviewing 3257 and 1568 Chinese adults in Hong Kong by a specially designed computerized telephone-interviewing method. SP was prevalent among male (50.9%) and female (54%) respondents; approximately 50% were dissatisfied with their sexual life. Of respondents, 23.9% of men and 5.9% of women perceived sex as important and 52.5% for men and 33.8% of women reported adequate sexual knowledge. The prevalence of SP ranged from 3.4% (pain) to 29.7% (premature orgasm) for men and 6.9% (anxiety) to 24.7% (lack of interest) for women. Prevalence of erectile and lubrication problems were 9.6 and 23.6%, respectively. Sex-related knowledge, perceived importance of sex, perceived physical health status, sexual satisfaction were predictors of SP. Gender differences and strong cultural influences appear to exist. Moreover, SP and sexual satisfaction were associated with mental health and vitality QOL and overall life satisfaction. IntroductionRecent studies have showed that sexual dysfunctions are common in both sexes. [1][2][3][4] A study in the US estimated the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) to be 43% among women and 31% among men. 5 An analysis of 22 general population surveys conducted in western countries summarized estimates of SD prevalence for men (inability to achieve orgasm: 5%, premature ejaculation: 35%, inhibited sexual excitement: 10-20% and inhibited sexual desire: 1-15%) and for women (inability to achieve orgasm: 5-30% and inhibited sexual desire: 1-35%). 6 Similarly, a large-scale international collaboration of multidisciplinary experts reported that 40-45% of adult women and 20-30% of adult men suffer from at least one SD. 7 It also reported the following prevalence rates among women: low levels of sexual interest at 17-55%, lubrication difficulties about 8-15%, orgasmic dysfunction at 25% and vaginismus at approximately 6%. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was reported to be 1-9% among young males under 40 y old and rapidly increased with age to 20-40% among males between the ages of 60-69 y. 7 Age, lower education, socioeconomic status, perceived health, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension were found to be important determinants of erectile dysfunction in men. 8,9 SD has also been attributed to other physical, clinical factors and psychological factors. 5,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Research on erectile dysfunction patients indicate that SD has significant adverse effects on both physical and mental health dimensions of quality of life (QOL). [20][21][22][23][24] Sexual dysfunction data for Asian populations are scant and primarily clinic-based. [25][26][27][28][29][30] Moreover, little is known about the prevailing attitudes and perceptions of sexual problems (SP) or its effects on QOL in Asian populations. Few large-scale, population-based studies on SP have been reported in Chinese population study. The study i...

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