A recent study into the health of returning war veterans has raised a connection between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sexual health. The US-based study argues that sexual dysfunction is a common part of the psychosomatic results of war for many veterans. Taken as part of a range of other symptoms including anxiety and depression, it represents a feature of great harm to their wellbeing and ability to enjoy a normal life.
The research concurs with previous studies that show PTSD and depression as significant risk factors for developing erectile dysfunction and other sexual health issues. Of information collected on 4,755 veterans, sexual dysfunction was found to be experienced by 3.6 per cent of younger men and 15.8 per cent of older veterans. As expected, those diagnosed with PTSD were much more likely to experience symptoms of sexual dysfunction. A total of ten types of sexual health problem were covered in the study, and any veterans who were prescribed treatment for their problem were counted by the researchers as a diagnosis. This is a fair approach, considering that the issue of sexual dysfunction is a difficult one, and both patients and doctors will handle it delicately, often withholding a clear diagnosis.
The study also brought up some interesting differences between the effect of war in younger and older men. Participants in the study ranged from 19 to 64 though the majority (84 per cent) were under 40. PTSD was diagnosed in 33 per cent of all veterans, and depression in 26 per cent. The distribution of symptoms differed between younger and older age groups in the sense that younger men saw a predominance of PTSD, and older men a prevalence of hypertension. As the aforementioned statistics demonstrate, sexual dysfunction was much more frequently experienced by men over 40, though it is still a significant occurrence in younger men.
The results of the study have prompted calls to expand the standard health check for war veterans. Sexual health is an important element of overall mental wellness and can be key to a soldier’s re-integration into their family after the experience of war. The impact of such a problem on intimate relationships can be a great source of stress for veterans when they try to return to normal life. The authors of the study suggest that sexual health should form an official part of the post-deployment health assessment, which all veterans have to go through. A frank and open approach to the issue would mean better documentation, quicker treatment and a more holistic approach to health.
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