Two-thirds of women report sex problems

2 August 2010
Two-thirds of women report sex problems
by George Atkinson

A new study from the Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey, into female sexual dysfunction identified problems achieving orgasm and lack of desire as the most common sexual dysfunctions affecting women.

The researchers involved asked nearly 600 women aged from 18 - 95 about six key areas of female sexual dysfunction (FSD): lack of desire, arousal issues, lack of lubrication, problems achieving orgasm, lack of satisfaction and intercourse pain. Almost two-thirds of the women surveyed reported at least one problem area.

"We found that 63 percent of the women suffered from FSD and that there were significant links between FSD and age, menopausal status and use of selective antidepressants," noted study co-author Dr Debra Fromer.

Some of the key findings included:

• The most sexually active age groups were 31-45 year-olds (87%), 18-30 year-olds (85%) and 46-54 year-olds (74%). It then fell sharply in 55-70 year-olds (45%) and in women who were over 70 (15%).
• The top overall problem was lack of desire (47%), followed by orgasm problems (45%), arousal issues (40%), lack of satisfaction (39%), lack of lubrication (37%) and pain (36%).
• Five of the six problem areas increased as the women got older: desire from 36 to 96%, arousal from 27 to 54%, lubrication from 26 to 45%, satisfaction from 28 to 88% and pain from 10 to 56%.
• The only category that improved with age was orgasm, with problems higher in the 18-30 age group (54%) than in the 31-45 (43%) and 46-54 (48%) age groups.

The top three problems by age group were:

• Aged 18-30: orgasm (54%), desire (36%) and satisfaction (28%)
• Aged 31-45: desire (48%), orgasm (43%) and satisfaction (40%)
• Aged 46-54: desire (65%), satisfaction (53%) and orgasm (48%)
• Aged 55-70: desire (77%), orgasm (66%), satisfaction (65%)
• Aged Over 70: desire (96%), satisfaction (88%) and orgasm (87%).

"Researchers have found significant associations between major categories of sexual dysfunction, reduced physical and emotional satisfaction and general well-being. That is why it is so important to ensure that problems are identified and tackled wherever possible," concluded Fromer.

Related:
Can't We Just Cuddle?
Male issues hinder elderly sex-life
Scientists Examine Triggers For Sexual Dysfunction
Obesity derails sexual quality of life

Source: Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey