Types of sexual difficulties

Abstract

Given the enormous number of factors that may influence sexual functioning, it is not surprising to find that the process frequently breaks down, resulting in problems in the areas of sexual desire, excitement or orgasm. It is difficult to find a reliable estimate of the extent of sexual problems amongst the general population, with estimates suggesting that between 10% and 50% of adults report some type of sexual difficulty at a given time (Stuntz, 1988). Unfortunately, there is a paucity of data regarding the incidence of psychosexual dysfunctions, in comparison with other human disorders. Nathan suggested that the lack of information about the incidence of sexual problems reflects the facts that sexual dysfunctions are neither disabling, a cause of death, congenital, communicable, heridatary, hospitalizable or work related and hence are not included in routine health statistics. We must therefore rely upon the results of specific surveys in which the samples are typically skewed or restricted in some way, with many studies being limited to students, university staff, attendees at contraceptive clinics or general hospital patients. Nathan (1986) reanalysed the data from 22 studies published over a fifty-year period in order to estimate the incidence of psychosexual dysfunctions.