Epidemiology and Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunctions by Age

Global Preva lence and Differences by Sex

Epidemiological research in clinical sexology reveals that sexual dysfunctions affect a significant percentage of the world’s population, exhibiting distinct epidemiological patterns according to biological sex.

Among women, studies estimate that between 30% and 45% of adult women experience some persistent disturbance in their sexual response.

Within this group, decreased or absent sexual desire and disorders of interest and arousal represent the most common condition, affecting up to one-third of the women eva luated.

Anorgasmia, meanwhile, has a preva lence ranging from 10% to 42%, with nearly 10% of women having never experienced an orgasm in their lifetime.

Genitopelvic pain disorders, such as vaginismus and dyspareunia, affect approximately 8% to 25% of female patients.

In the male population, the overall preva lence of dysfunction ranges from 20% to 30%, with premature ejaculation being the most commonly reported problem at the population level, followed by erectile difficulties.

Impact of Age on Sexual Dysfunction

Aging and the different stages of the life cycle have a decisive influence on the frequency and types of sexual dysfunction.

In men, erectile dysfunction shows a clear correlation with age: it occurs in 10% of men under 40, reaches 50% among those aged 40 to 70, and exceeds 80% in those over 80, directly linked to vascular and endocrine deterioration and systemic comorbidities.

Similarly, male hypoactive sexual desire increases from 6% in young men to 41% in older adults.

In women, the preva lence of arousal and lubrication disorders increases after menopause due to estrogen deprivation and vulvovaginal atrophy.

However, the emotional distress associated with female low sexual desire tends to decrease with age.

In contrast, premature ejaculation is more common among young men due to anxiety and inexperience.

Paradoxes of Clinical Practice and Epidemiological Underreporting

There is a profound and marked discrepancy between the actual preva lence in the general population and the rate of patients seeking specialized professional care.

Premature ejaculation clearly illustrates this paradox: although it affects up to 30% of men, only between 1% and 3% consult a specialist, due to sociocultural bias, shame, or the acceptance of myths about sexual performance.

Similarly, the underreporting of female health conditions is strongly influenced by the normalization of discomfort, sexual illiteracy, and a lack of information, causing many women to avoid seeking clinical treatment.

Therefore, epidemiological assessment requires estimating the true impact on public health.

Abstract

Sexual dysfunction has a high global preva lence, with rates ranging from 30% to 45% in women and 20% to 30% in men, with low female libido and premature ejaculation being particularly notable.

Age progressively increases the incidence of erectile and lubrication disorders due to vascular and endocrine factors, as well as postmenopausal atrophy, while early ejaculatory difficulties are more common in the young male population.

Despite the high preva lence in the general population, there is significant underreporting in clinical settings due to stigma, sociocultural shame, misinformation, and the failure of those affected to seek specialized medical care.