Intimacy and quality of life among sexually dysfunctional men and women

Abstract

This study evaluated the associations between intimacy, quality of life, and sexual dysfunction in men and women. Participants were 145 sexually functional (43 men, 102 women) adults drawn from the general population and 198 sexually dysfunctional (114 men, 84 women) adults who came to a university sexual behavior clinic. All respondents were currently involved in a heterosexual relationship. Respondents completed a series of questionnaires to evaluate the level of intimacy in their relationships, their quality of life, and their level of sexual dysfunction. All aspects of intimacy were lower among sexually dysfunctional men than among sexually functional men for all subgroups of dysfunctionality (premature ejaculation, erectile failure, and lack of sexual desire). Levels of intimacy were less likely to discriminate between functional and dysfunctional women, with functional women only obtaining higher intimacy scores than each of the dysfunctional groups of women (inorgasmia, lack of arousal, lack of sexual desire) for social intimacy and recreational intimacy and, to a lesser extent, for sexual intimacy. Objective levels of quality of life as well as the satisfaction and importance of the quality of life domains were more likely to be lower when sexually dysfunctional women were compared with their functional counterparts than when sexually dysfunctional men were compared with their functional counterparts. The implications of these findings for an understanding of factors that contribute to sexual dysfunction, and the treatment of these disorders, is discussed.

The impact of the use of PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction on the lives of Australian men

“…For example, it has been shown in previous studies that men with ED report deficits in several broader areas of their life, including their general emotional satisfaction, general happiness, productivity, intimacy and safety. 17,20 The psychological and QOL findings of the present study support the recent proposal by FuglMeyer et al 18 that presence of ED has its impact on men's QOL because of the creation of a sexual aspiration-achievement gap. According to FuglMeyer et al, 18 when sex is regarded as an important aspect of a man's life, but he is unable to fulfil his sexual goals (for example, through presence of ED), the gap between sexual aspirations and achievement widens, resulting in an overall decline in QOL.…”

Validation of the Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women and Men

“…For some men, particularly older men, emotional connection was integral to their arousal. This finding is supported by other research which suggests that relationship factors may be equally important to men's sexual functioning (McCabe, 1997). In a study focusing on the relationship between sexual desire and relationship functioning among community couples, Brezsnyak and Whisman (2004) found that higher levels of marital satisfaction predicted higher levels of sexual desire for husbands as well as for wives.…”

“…There is strong theoretical support, and some empirical support, for the supposition that women's sexual arousal is closely linked to their satisfaction with their partner and their relationship (Basson, 2000;Byers, 2001; The Working Group for a New View of Sexual Women's Sexual Problems, 2001). McCabe (1997) evaluated the differences in levels of intimacy between sexually functional and dysfunctional males and females and found women experienced sexual dysfunction even if only a few intimacy-related domains were lacking. For men, most aspects of intimacy had to be impaired before dysfunction occurred.…”

Sexual dysfunction in partners of men with premature ejaculation

“…4 This is despite the fact that PE causes similar issues as ED within a relationship, namely, reduced sexual satisfaction and intimacy, and increased interpersonal difficulties. [5][6][7][8] Levels of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) are also relatively high, with epidemiological data suggesting rates of 20-60%. 2,9-11 A recent review of prevalence studies investigating female sexual difficulty conducted by Hayes et al 12 observed that although variation exists, patterns of sexual dysfunction were consistent across studies.…”