The study was done to document, in an epidemiologic study, the prevalence of low sexual desire with associated distress, and associated psychosocial factors in Australian women.10,554 women were recruited from the community.
The majority of the participants were partnered 66.5% and 38.9% were recently sexually inactive. Low desire prevalence increased from age 18–24 years to 75–79 years. Just over half of all participants aged 25–39 years had sexually related personal distress, after which the prevalence declined with age ( P < .001). 10,259 participants provided sufficient information for eHSDD classification. eHSDD increased from age 18–24 years, remained constant until 60–64 years, and progressively declined to 7.3% by 75–79 years. HSDD was significantly, positively associated with being partnered ( P < .001), sexually inactive ( P < .001), more educated ( P = .001), and psychotropic medication use ( P < .001), and negatively with Asian ethnicity ( P < .001).
The study concluded that eHSDD is most prevalent at midlife. eHSDD is greater for women who are partnered, sexually inactive, more educated, or taking psychotropic medications. Taken together these findings should aid health professionals in identifying women most at risk of eHSDD.
Reference: https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(20)30756-6/fulltext
