Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe and analyse the prevalence of sexual problems in Norway. Methods: The results are based on two samples from 2008, one of which was taken from 1671 web interviews in December among persons ranging from 18—67 years of age, and the other being a survey on sexual behaviour among a random sample of 12,000 Norwegians between the ages of 18 and 59, taken in April. Main outcome measures: The prevalence of sexual problems during the past 12 months. Results: Generalised linear model analyses showed that the highest expected prevalence of manifest problems was found in the following groups: reduced sexual desire problems in 60—67-year-old women with university education (52%); orgasm problems in 18—29-year-old women with less than university education (32%); genital pain in 18—29-year-old women with less than university education (19%); premature ejaculation problems in 18—29-year-old men with less than university education (27%); delayed ejaculation problems in men with less than university education (12%); erectile dysfunction in 60—67-year-old men (34%); and lubrication problems in 60—67-year-old women living in southeast Norway (29%). Sexual problems correlated negatively with sexual wellbeing. Conclusions: This research indicates that sexual problems represent a public health problem.

Keywords

Delayed ejaculation erectile dysfunction insufficient lubrication genital pain Norway orgasm problems premature ejaculation prevalence reduced sexual desire sexual problems sexual wellbeing

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

DeRogatis LR , Burnett AL The epidemiology of sexual dysfunctions . J Sex Med 2008;5(2):289-300.

Laumann EO , Paik A. , Rosen RC Sexual dysfunction in the United States. Prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999;281(6):537-44.

Lewis RW , Fugl-Meyer KS , Bosch R. , Fugl-Meyer AR , Laumann EO , Lizza E. , Martin-Morales A. Definitions, classification, and epidemiology of sexual dysfunction . In: Lue TF , Basson R , Rosen R , Giuliano F , Khoury S , Montorsi F , editors. Sexual medicine: sexual dysfunctions in men and women. Geneva: WHO Health Publications; 2004. pp. 37-72.

Laumann EO , West S. , Glasser D. , Carson C. , Rosen R. , Kang J. Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction by race and ethnicity among men aged 40 or older in the United States: From the male attitudes regarding sexual health survey. J Sex Med 2007;4(1):57-65.

Öberg K. , Fugl-Meyer K. Sexual dysfunctions in women and men. In: Traeen B , Lewin B , editors. Sexology in context. Oslo : Universitetsforlaget AS; 2008 .

Træen B. , Martinussen M. , Öberg K. , Kavli H. Reduced sexual desire in a random sample of Norwegian couples. Sex Relat Ther 2007;22(3):303-22.

Binik YM Should dyspareunia be classified as a sexual dysfunction in DSM-V? A painful classification decision. Arch Sex Behav 2005 ;34(1):11-21.

Pitts M. , Ferris J. , Smith A. , Shelley J. , Richters J.

Prevalence and correlates of three types of pelvic pain in a nationally representative sample of

Australian men. J Sex Med 2008; 5(5):1223-9.

Træen B. , Stigum H. , Eskild A. Contraception and STD protection among urban Norwegians. Culture Health Sexuality 2002;4(1):85-102.

10.

Træen B. , Stigum H. , Magnus P. Rapport fra seksualvaneundersøkelsene i 1987, 1992, 1997 og 2002 [Report from the sexual behaviour surveys in 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002, in Norwegian]. Oslo: National Institute of Public Health, 2003.

11.

Hellevik O. Noen forskningsetiske problemer innenfor kvantitativ metode [Some ethical problems in research using quantitative methods, in Norwegian] . In: Etikk og metode [Ethics and method] Series no. 12, pp. 37-48. Oslo: The National Committees for Research Ethics Norway , 1999 .

12.

Søgaard AJ , Selmer R. , Bjertness E. , Thelle D. The Oslo health survey: the impact of self-selection in a large, population-based survey. Int J Equity Health 2004;3(3):1-12.

13.

Stigum H. Mathematical models for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases using sexual behavior data. Nor Epidemiol 1997;7(suppl 5).

14.

Haavio-Mannila E. , Kontula O. Sexual trends in the Baltic sea area. Helsinki: Publication of the Population Research Institute ; 2003.

15.

Lewin B. , Fugl-Meyer K. , Helmius G. , Lalos A. , Månsson SA Sex in Sweden. On the Swedish sexual life. Stockholm : National Institute of Public Health; 2000.

16.

Synovate ViewsNet . Online and panel research, the Synovate way . http://www.synovate.com/whatwedo/online-panel-research/ ; http://www.synovate.no/ny/produktark/091007-synovate_ebase.pdf ; http://www.synovate.com/whatwedo/online-panel-research/ (accessed September 2008).

17.

Fisher L. , Kane N. An examination of online sampling techniques. Chicago, IL: Synovate; 2004.

18.

Fisher L. Random sampling v. panel-based research. Perspectives MRA Alert Magazine. Chicago, IL : Synovate; 2005.

19.

McCullagh P. , Nelder JA Generalized linear models, 2nd edition. London: Chapman and Hall; 1989.

20.

Eplov L. , Giraldi A. , Davidsen M. , Gade K. , Kamper-Jørgensen F. Sexual desire in a nationally representative Danish population. J Sex Med 2007;4(1):47-56.

21.

Stuckey BGA. Female sexual function and dysfunction in the reproductive years: The influence of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones . J Sex Med 2008;5(10):2282-90.

22.

Hayes RD , Dennerstein L. , Bennett CM , Sidat M. , Gurrin LC , Fairley CK Risk factors for female sexual dysfunction in the general population: Exploring factors associated with low sexual function and sexual distress . J Sex Med 2008;5(7):1681-93.

23.

Malavige LS , Jayaratne SD , Kathriarachchi ST , Sivayogan S. , Fernando DJ , Levy JC Erectile dysfunction among men with diabetes is strongly associated with premature ejaculation and reduced libido. J Sex Med 2008;5(9):2125-34.

24.

Dennerstein L. , Guthrie JR , Hayes RD , DeRogatis LR , Lehert P. Sexual function, dysfunction, and sexual distress in a prospective, population-based sample of mid-aged, Australian-born women . J Sex Med 2008;5(10):2291-9.

25.

McCabe MP Relationship factors in the development and maintenance of ED: Implications for treatment effectiveness. J Sex Med 2008;5(8):1795-1804.

26.

Mercer CH , Fenton KA , Johnson AM , Wellings K. , Macdowall W. , McManus S. , Nanchahal K. , Erens B. Sexual function problems and help seeking behaviour in Britain: National probability sample . Br Med J 2003;327(7412):426-7.

27.

Træen B. When sex becomes a duty. Sex Relat Ther 2008; 23(1):61-84.

28.

Nobre PJ , Pinto-Gouveia J. Dysfunctional sexual beliefs as vulnerability factors for sexual dysfunction . Journal of Sex Research 2006;43(1):68-75.

29.

Nobre PJ , Pinto-Gouveia J. Emotions during sexual activity: Differences between sexually functional and dysfunctional men and women. Arch Sex Behav 2006;35(4):491-9.

30.

Træen B. , Sørensen D. A qualitative study of how survivors of sexual, psychological and physical abuse sexuality and desire . Sex Relat Ther 2008;23(4):377-91.

Sexual problems in 18-67-year-old Norwegians

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References