Quality of sex life and perceived sexual pleasure of PrEP users in the Netherlands

Next to its benefits for HIV prevention, PrEP may have psychosocial benefits relating to improved quality of sex life. The aim of the current study was to investigate the onset of changes in quality of sex life and sexual pleasure of PrEP users in the first months of commencing PrEP use. Moreover, we investigated what factors were related to the quality of sex life of PrEP users. We recruited 145 participants via the Dutch PrEP-advocacy website PrEPnu.nl, and they received follow-up questionnaires after three and six months. We found that PrEP users reported an increase in the quality of their sex life, which was related to reduced fear of HIV since they started using PrEP, but not to decreased condom use. PrEP users were more interested in experimenting with sex practices, but they did not always feel more desirable as a sex partner because of PrEP use. Health care providers and health promotion campaigns could emphasize the positive effects of PrEP on the quality of sex life, in addition to the HIV-preventive effects of PrEP, to decrease PrEP stigma and increase PrEP uptake.

Roles of Selected Psycho-Demographic Factors on Quality of Sex Life and Marital Satisfaction among Dual-career Couples

The study investigated the predictive roles of career self-efficacy, work-life balance and selected demographic factors on the quality of sex life and marital satisfaction among dual-career couples in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, and assessed if there are significant differences between men and women. The study used a cross-sectional research design and 1056 dual-career men and women ( age = 43.98, σ = 9.48, ♀ = 37.0%) participated in the study. A self-administered paper and pencil questionnaire was used to collect data from samples that were conveniently drawn from the study area. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Results showed significant differences in structural weights, structural covariances, and structural residuals in the model outputs for both men and women careerists. The study concluded that career self-efficacy and work-life balance differentially predict the quality of sex life and marital satisfaction for both men and women in a dual-career family, and that age and job tenure are not significant predictors of quality of sex life and marital satisfaction among dual-career couples.

Sexual intercourse during pregnancy as a source of anxiety in pregnant women

Background: Pregnant women feel and accept the need for sexual activity and in most cases engage in intercourse during pregnancy. The aim of the study was to assessment of the occurrence of anxiety associated with the possibility that the fetus is at risk, which results from having sexual contacts by healthy women during pregnancy. Methods: 373 women were surveyed using a self-constructed questionnaire containing questions about sexual life during pregnancy. The examination took place between the first and the fifth day after delivery, when patients stayed in the Obstetric Ward. All women delivered healthy children on time. The obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Among 373 examined women, 319 (85,5%) had intercourses during pregnancy, while 54 (14,5%) were not sexually active. In a group of sexually active women, 196 (52,2%) felt anxiety that pregnancy may be at risk due to this activity. Conclusions: It is advisable for the doctor and midwife to talk with a pregnant woman about differences in intercourse and quality of sex life during pregnancy, minimizing the occurrence of fear about fetus well-being.

Investigation of the Effects of Marital Adjustment on Sexual Life Quality of Married Women

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of marital adjustment on the quality of sex life in married women.Method: As a descriptive study, the universe of the present study consists of married women consulting to an education and research hospital and primary care clinics in a province while the sample is composed of 365 voluntary married women that are open to dialogue. In collecting the data, “Information form” containing socio-demographic background, “Marriage Adjustment form (MAF) and sexual life quality scale for woman (SFQSW) were used. In analysing the data, arithmetic mean, percentage, frequency, Mann Whitney-U test, Kruskall Wallis Analysis and Spearman Correlation Analysis were employed.Findings: Arithmetic score of the MAF is 43.58±9.83 and that of SFQSW is 79.88±19.57 while significant relation between the scores was found in positive direction (p<0.05).Results: The more marital adjustment increases in women, the better the sexual life quality is. In order to increase the level of well-being and life quality in marriage, nurses are suggested to counsel the couples and family consultants are advised to inform the families on sexual issues and improve their communication skills.

Long-term sexual functioning in germ-cell tumor survivors.

549 Background: Treatment for germ-cell tumors (GCT) may lead to long-term consequences in GCT survivors. This study aimed to evaluate a long-term sexual functioning after curative treatment for GCT. Methods: GCT survivors (N = 155) from a national cancer centre completed a Sexual Function Questionnaire that was modified from PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction Questionnaire at a median 10 years of follow up (range 5-32) as a primary exploratory aim. Seventeen survivors (11%) had orchiectomy alone (controls), while 138 (89%) survivors received treatment beyond orchiectomy. The study group consisted of survivors receiving a cisplatin-based chemotherapy, radiotherapy to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes or both, while the control group included survivors treated with orchiectomy only. Results: Survivors treated with both chemotherapy and radiotherapy or any treatment had difficulty maintaining erection during the intercourse compared to the controls (both P = 0.04). Moreover, patients who received chemotherapy and radiotherapy reported difficulty in achieving orgasm during the intercourse ( P = 0.04) and they were disappointed with their overall quality of sex life ( P = 0.002). No difference in education, employment, marital status and parity was observed between the study groups (all P > 0.05). GCT survivors reported no differences in their sexual desire and in the number of attempts to initiate sexual intercourse in the last month. Survivors from all treatment groups reported none or mild anxiety resulting from sexual relationships and the desire to be sexually active was moderate among all subgroups, with no significant difference. Conclusions: Our prospective study shows that an impairment insexual function is a significant issue for long-term GCT survivors. Treatment with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy had the highest impact on the quality of sex life.