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Women's Sexual Concerns: Data Analysis from a Help-Line

Papaharitou S, Nakopoulou E, Kirana P, Iraklidou M, Athanasiadis L, Hatzichristou D; J Sex Med 2005;2:652-657.

KEY WORDS: Female Sexual Dysfunction; Help-Line; Sexual Behavior; Quality of Life

Women's sexual concerns are highly prevalent, affecting up to 50% of women. The most frequently reported problems are reduced sexual desire, difoculties reaching orgasm, vaginal lubrication problems, and pain during sexual intercourse. Therefore, until recently, women's sexual problems have been vastly underreported and untreated. The aim of this study was to present women's sexual problems, as reported by women calling a help-line in order to seek advice from specialized counselors. Furthermore, the study aims to investigate women's help-seeking behavior regarding sexual matters.

• The study included all telephone calls from women who called for sexual concerns to a help-line dedicated to sexual problems during a 5-year period. Of a total of 3,523 calls made by women, 2,287 full forms were analyzed (response rate of 64.9%).
• Women's sexual concerns are not devoted to their sexual problems, but also their partner's and children's problems. In fact, most women (46.6%) called for problems encountered by their partners, 45.1% called for their own sexual problems, while 5.9% were calling for their children. Most frequently reported sexual problems are difficulties in reaching orgasm (25.6%) and reduced sexual destre (16.9%). However, women are reluctant to seek medical advice on their sexual concerns: only 34.3% of them had already consulted a doctor. There is a need for general practitioners and family doctors to become aware of the possibility of a sexual problem and to be trained on how to manage this at a primary care level.

See the abstract

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2005.00116.x