PREVALENCE OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN HETEROSEXUAL PATIENTS ATTENDING ACENTRAL LONDON GENITOURINARY MEDICINE CLINIC

Our objective was to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction am ong new heterosexual attendees at a central London genitourinary medic ine (GUM) clinic. We carried out a cross-sectional study in which pati ents completed a self-administered questionnaire-the Golombok-Rust Inv entory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS) and participated in a brief inte rview during which additional information was sought regarding the pat ient's sexual history. An overall transformed score of >5 on the GRISS was defined as indicative of overall sexual dysfunction and a score o f >5 on any of the subscales as indicative of a specific sexual dysfun ction. Twenty-five (24%) men and 10 (9%) women had a GRISS score in ke eping with overall sexual dysfunction, the prevalence being significan tly lower in women (P=0.01, chi(2)=6.56, Idf). Sixty-three men (59%) a nd 63 (60%) women produced scores indicative of significant abnormalit y on at least one subscale, including, in men: erectile dysfunction 20 (19%), premature ejaculation 23 (22%), and in women: vaginismus 26 (2 5%) and anorgasmia 23 (22%). Neither an abnormal overall or subscale s core on the GRISS was associated with a current STD on KC60 diagnosis or a history of sexual assault for either men or women. There is a sub stantial prevalence of sexual dysfunction in new heterosexual attendee s at our clinic, the service implications of which need to be addresse d.