Abstract
Sexual dysfunctions and difficulties are common experiences that may impact importantly on the perceived quality of life, but prevalence estimates are highly sensitive to the definitions used. We used questionnaire data for 4415 sexually active Danes aged 16–95 years who participated in a national health and morbidity survey in 2005 to estimate the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions and difficulties and to identify associated sociodemographic factors. Overall, 11% (95% CI, 10–13%) of men and 11% (10–13%) of women reported at least one sexual dysfunction (i.e., a frequent sexual difficulty that was perceived as a problem) in the last year, while another 68% (66–70%) of men and 69% (67–71%) of women reported infrequent or less severe sexual difficulties. Estimated overall frequencies of sexual dysfunctions among men were: premature ejaculation (7%), erectile dysfunction (5%), anorgasmia (2%), and dyspareunia (0.1%); among women: lubrication insufficiency (7%), anorgasmia (6%), dyspareunia (3%), and vaginismus (0.4%). Highest frequencies of sexual dysfunction were seen in men above age 60 years and women below age 30 years or above age 50 years. In logistic regression analysis, indicators of economic hardship in the family were positively associated with sexual dysfunctions, notably among women. In conclusion, while a majority of sexually active adults in Denmark experience sexual difficulties with their partner once in a while, approximately one in nine suffer from frequent sexual difficulties that constitute a threat to their well-being. Sexual dysfunctions seem to be more common among persons who experience economic hardship in the family.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahn, T. Y., Park, J. K., Lee, S. W., Hong, J. H., Park, N. C., Kim, J. J., et al. (2007). Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in Korean men: Results of an epidemiological study. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 4, 1269–1276.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
Chew, K. K., Stuckey, B., Bremner, A., Earle, C., & Jamrozik, K. (2008). Male erectile dysfunction: Its prevalence in Western Australia and associated sociodemographic factors. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5, 60–69.
Dalton, S. O., Schüz, J., Engholm, G., Johansen, C., Kjær, S. K., Steding-Jessen, M., et al. (2008). Social inequality in incidence of and survival from cancer in a population-based study in Denmark, 1994–2003: Summary of findings. European Journal of Cancer, 44, 2074–2085.
Dunn, K. M., Croft, P. R., & Hackett, G. I. (1998). Sexual problems: A study of the prevalence and need for health care in the general population. Family Practice, 15, 519–524.
Eplov, L., Giraldi, A., Davidsen, M., Garde, K., & Kamper-Jørgensen, F. (2007). Sexual desire in a nationally representative Danish population. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 4, 47–56.
Fugl-Meyer, A. R., & Fugl-Meyer, K. S. (1999). Sexual disabilities, problems and satisfaction in 18–74 year old Swedes. Scandinavian Journal of Sexology, 2, 79–105.
Garde, K., & Lunde, I. (1984). Influence of social status on female sexual behaviour. A random sample study of 40-year-old Danish women. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 2, 5–10.
Graugaard, C., Eplov, L. F., Giraldi, A., Kristensen, E., Munck, E., & Møhl, B. (2004). Denmark. In R. T. Francoeur & R. J. Noonan (Eds.), International encyclopedia of sexuality (pp. 329–344). New York: Continuum.
Harrell, F. (2001). Regression modeling strategies: With applications to linear models, logistic regression, and survival analysis. New York: Springer-Verlag.
Laumann, E. O., Nicolosi, A., Glasser, D. B., Paik, A., Gingell, C., Moreira, E., et al. (2005). Sexual problems among women and men aged 40–80 y: Prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. International Journal of Impotence Research, 17, 39–57.
Laumann, E. O., Paik, A., & Rosen, R. C. (1999). Sexual dysfunction in the United States: Prevalence and predictors. Journal of the American Medical Association, 281, 537–544.
Lewis, R. W., Fugl-Meyer, K. S., Bosch, R., Fugl-Meyer, A. R., Laumann, E. O., & Lizza, E. (2004). Definitions, classification, and epidemiology of sexual dysfunction. In T. F. Lue, R. Basson, R. Rosen, F. Giuliano, S. Khoury, & F. Montorsi (Eds.), Sexual medicine: Sexual dysfunction in men and women (pp. 37–72). Paris: Health Publications.
Lyngdorf, P., & Hemmingsen, L. (2004). Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction and its risk factors: A practice-based study in Denmark. International Journal of Impotence Research, 16, 105–111.
Mak, R., De, B. G., Kornitzer, M., & De Meyer, J. M. (2002). Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction in a population-based study in Belgium. European Urology, 41, 132–138.
Mercer, C. H., Fenton, K. A., Johnson, A. M., Copas, A. J., Macdowall, W., Erens, B., et al. (2005). Who reports sexual function problems? Empirical evidence from Britain’s 2000 national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 81, 394–399.
Mercer, C. H., Fenton, K. A., Johnson, A. M., Wellings, K., Macdowall, W., McManus, S., et al. (2003). Sexual function problems and help seeking behaviour in Britain: National probability sample survey. British Medical Journal, 327, 426–427.
Montorsi, F. (2005). Prevalence of premature ejaculation: A global and regional perspective. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2(Suppl 2), 96–102.
Moreira, E. D., Hartmann, U., Glasser, D. B., & Gingell, C. (2005). A population survey of sexual activity, sexual dysfunction and associated help-seeking behavior in middle-aged and older adults in Germany. European Journal of Medical Research, 10, 434–443.
Moreira, E. D., Kim, S. C., Glasser, D., & Gingell, C. (2006). Sexual activity, prevalence of sexual problems, and associated help-seeking patterns in men and women aged 40–80 years in Korea: Data from the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors (GSSAB). Journal of Sexual Medicine, 3, 201–211.
Moreira, E. D., Lisboa Lobo, C. F., Villa, M., Nicolosi, A., & Glasser, D. B. (2002). Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction in Salvador, northeastern Brazil: A population-based study. International Journal of Impotence Research, 14(Suppl 2), S3–S9.
Nazareth, I., Boynton, P., & King, M. (2003). Problems with sexual function in people attending London general practitioners: Cross sectional study. British Medical Journal, 327, 423–426.
Nicolosi, A., Glasser, D. B., Moreira, E. D., & Villa, M. (2003a). Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and associated factors among men without concomitant diseases: A population study. International Journal of Impotence Research, 15, 253–257.
Nicolosi, A., Moreira, E. D., Shirai, M., Bin Mohd Tambi, M. I., & Glasser, D. B. (2003b). Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction in four countries: Cross-national study of the prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction. Urology, 61, 201–206.
Öberg, K., Fugl-Meyer, A. R., & Fugl-Meyer, K. S. (2004). On categorization and quantification of women’s sexual dysfunctions: An epidemiological approach. International Journal of Impotence Research, 16, 261–269.
Pedersen, C. B., Gøtzsche, H., Møller, J. O., & Mortensen, P. B. (2006). The Danish Civil Registration System. A cohort of eight million persons. Danish Medical Bulletin, 53, 441–449.
Rasmussen, N. K., & Kjøller, M. (2004). The National Institute of Public Health’s program for health and morbidity surveys. Ugeskrift for Laeger, 166, 1438–1441.
Richters, J., Grulich, A. E., de Visser, R. O., Smith, A. M., & Rissel, C. E. (2003). Sex in Australia: Sexual difficulties in a representative sample of adults. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 27, 164–170.
Selvin, E., Burnett, A. L., & Platz, E. A. (2007). Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in the US. American Journal of Medicine, 120, 151–157.
The Danish Ministry of Health. (2000). Social inequality in health. Differences in health, lifestyle, and use of the health care system. Copenhagen: Nyt Nordisk Forlag Arnold Busck A/S.
Ventegodt, S. (1998). Sex and the quality of life in Denmark. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 27, 295–307.
Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the Danish Medical Research Council, the Lundbeck Foundation, The Health Insurance Foundation, Aase and Einar Danielsens Foundation, Carl J. Beckers Foundation, Frode V. Nyegaard and wife’s Foundation, Krista and Viggo Petersens Foundation, and Torben and Alice Frimodts Foundation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Appendix
Appendix
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Christensen, B.S., Grønbæk, M., Osler, M. et al. Sexual Dysfunctions and Difficulties in Denmark: Prevalence and Associated Sociodemographic Factors. Arch Sex Behav 40, 121–132 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9599-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9599-y