Investigating the sexual quality of life and its relationship with general health in older men in Iran

Determinants of Sexual Health and Sexual Quality of Life after Cardiovascular Surgeries: An Integrative Review

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Sexual health and sexual quality of life are key components of psychosocial adjustment after cardiac surgeries and are often linked with improving the general quality of life. Reviews have been conducted to highlight the associations between cardiovascular diseases and sexual dysfunctions, but no review reported determinants of sexual health and sexual quality of life in patients after cardiovascular surgeries. We aimed to comprehensively examine the determinants of sexual health and sexual quality of life among individuals with cardiovascular surgeries.

METHODS

Literature was searched within PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and OVID databases. In total, 816 records were identified from database searches, 279 records were screened, and 11 empirical studies were included for review. Relevant data were extracted using literature summary tables and synthesised using an inductive approach.

RESULTS

The core determinants of sexual health and sexual quality of life were type of surgery and comorbidities, fears and uncertainties regarding sexual activity, sexual health education and counselling, spousal relationship and communication, and demographic factors such as advanced age and literacy levels. Major surgeries performed were coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and heart valve surgeries. The data collection tools used to collect data for sexual health and sexual quality of life were the International Erectile Function Questionnaire (IEFQ), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Sexual Knowledge CABG Scale (SKS-CABG), Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire (SQOL), SKS-Myocardial Infarction Scale (SKS-MI), and Couple Communication Scale (CCS).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite their importance, sexual health and quality of life are frequently overlooked during patient rehabilitation after cardiovascular surgeries. The lack of adequate education and counselling from healthcare professionals frequently leads to increased fear and uncertainties among individuals and their partners. Therefore, more person-centred educational and counselling approaches should be developed to address the sexual concerns of individuals and their partners.

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Sexual Lives of Polish Young Adults

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to daily life in Poland, with restrictions affecting various sectors, including entertainment, education, and travel. The pandemic's impact extended to intimate aspects of life. This study aimed to compare the sexual functioning of young adults in Poland before and during the pandemic, using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14). Methods: The research involved an online survey with demographic questions, the CSFQ-14 for pre-pandemic sexual functioning, and modified CSFQ-14 questions for the pandemic period. Sexual dysfunction was determined using predefined cutoff scores. Results: Overall, the study found no significant difference in the sexual functioning of young Poles during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before. However, there were gender-specific trends. Women reported enhanced pleasure, satisfaction, and orgasm during lockdown, while men faced challenges with erection and ejaculation. A higher proportion of women experienced overall sexual dysfunction compared to men, both before and during the pandemic. This research provides insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual lives of young Poles. While overall sexual functioning remained relatively stable, specific aspects varied by gender. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the need to consider demographic factors, such as age and gender, when assessing the effects of external stressors like a pandemic on sexual health. Further research is essential to fully grasp these complexities and their potential long-term consequences.

Sexual quality of life and sexual self-efficacy among women during reproductive-menopausal transition stages and postmenopause: a comparative study

Sexual self-efficacy is essential for appropriate and desirable sexual function and sexual quality of life. This study aimed to compare sexual quality of life and sexual self-efficacy among women during reproductive-menopausal transition stages and postmenopause. This was a cross-sectional study of a sample of Iranian women. The sexual quality of life-female (SQOL-F) scale was used to measure sexual quality of life (SQOL) and sexual self-efficacy (SSE) was measured using the sexual self-efficacy questionnaire (SSEQ). Data were compared between the study groups using multiple linear regression. In all 340 women (170 in reproductive-menopausal transition stages and 170 postmenopause) were studied. The mean ages of reproductive-menopausal transition stages and postmenopausal women was 30.8 ± 6.55 and 56.3 ± 3.54 respectively (P < 0.001). Sexual self-efficacy and sexual quality of life were found to be significantly higher in reproductive-menopausal transition stages compared with postmenopause women (P < 0.001 and P = 0.017 respectively). Sexual and relationship satisfaction and sexual repression subscales differed significantly between the two groups (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001 respectively). Higher sexual self-efficacy contributed to higher sexual quality of life (P < 0.0001). Reproductive-menopausal transition stages women appear to enjoy higher levels of sexual self-efficacy and sexual quality of life. Given the importance of sexual quality of life, it is recommended to pay greater attention to sexual self-efficacy among postmenopausal women in order to improve sexual quality of life in this population.

Analysis of Sexual Inhibition and Satisfaction from a Gender Perspective among University Students

University is characterized by a critical stage where students experience their sexuality, across a range of relationships. From these experiences, university students consolidate their personality and their sexual role. Factors such as age, sex, or traumatic experiences of violence or sexual abuse can affect their sexual role. The present study aims to analyze how the variables age, sex and having suffered abuse or violence may predict sexual satisfaction and inhibition. In addition, we analyze the mediating effect that sexual role plays on these relationships. For this purpose, Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI-12), Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), Inhibited Sexual Desire Test (ISD) and New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NESS) were administered to 403 university students. The findings report that sex (β = −0.313), age (β = −0.116) and being a survivor of sexual assault (β = 0.413) are predictive of male role, but not from the female role. Also, people with more male features tend to have lower levels of commitment and inhibition than those who have more female ones.