The survey defined a sexual health issue as one of six conditions – a lack of desire to engage in sex, not being able to become sexually aroused, the inability to have an orgasm, pain during intercourse, an excessive desire to have sex and vaginal dryness. Those who responded to the survey said that these issues had a negative impact on their relationships, as well as damaging their self-esteem and mental health. The women also said that the stress and anxiety caused by these problems also impacted their sleeping habits and even their weight.
The definition of sexual health varies but the majority of the respondents who took part in the study defined it as a healthy and satisfying sex life, having a good relationship with their partner and experiencing a desire for sexual activity. They also defined a healthy sex life as having intercourse once a week or more. The study concluded though that one half of the women spoken to actually had sex this often in the last four weeks.
The first port of call for women seeking advice is the internet, closely followed by their partner. However, as previously stated, only 18 percent of women actually attended a health clinic in order to seek medical advice for their problem. Those who regularly visited their GP for other health concerns were more likely to seek the advice of a health care provider for a sexual health issue. This is a undervalued source of information though – health care providers have numerous resources to help women in need and to encourage them to maximise their sexual health throughout the age span.